There are companies that produce excellence. And then there are some that manage to do something even rarer: transform their work into a tangible value for others. Villa Russiz, in the heart of the Collio Gorizia area, belongs to this second category.
Known among wine enthusiasts for its elegant white wines, Villa Russiz is also a foundation that has been running a project for minors in need for over a hundred years. A place where farming and solidarity still coexist in a tangible way, without slogans.
The story begins in 1868, when Count Theodor de La Tour and Baroness Elvine Ritter de Záhony received the Russiz lands in Capriva del Friuli as a gift. Theodor immediately understood the extraordinary winemaking potential of these hills and began pioneering work in the area, introducing new varieties and methods that were innovative for the time.
But alongside the construction of the farm, something equally important was born: Elvine’s social commitment to the most vulnerable children. She promoted shelter and training facilities for disadvantaged minors, initiating a project that continues today through the Villa Russiz Foundation.
And perhaps this is precisely the aspect that makes this reality different from many others.
Because here, wine isn’t just a quality product or a symbol of the region. It’s also a tool that helps support an educational and social mission. Even today, the foundation manages the agricultural and winemaking assets, investing the proceeds in the “Casa Elvine” family home, a facility that welcomes boys and girls in difficult situations, offering them a family environment, educational support, and personalized development programs.
A project that stands out for its continuity. In an era when social responsibility is often conveyed primarily through communication campaigns, Villa Russiz continues a model born over a century ago and remaining true to its origins.
Even the size of the place seems to convey this identity. The historic estate, nestled among the Collio DOC vineyards, still retains the charm of a grand 19th-century property: the neo-Gothic villa, the historic park, the ancient cellars, and the rows of vines that follow the gentle contours of the Friulian hills. Everything speaks of tradition, care, and a deep connection to the land.
Yet Villa Russiz doesn’t thrive on nostalgia. On the contrary, it continues to evolve, maintaining a strong bond between production excellence and attention to people. The wines have received numerous international awards, but the most interesting part of their history is perhaps not what’s written in the industry guides.
It’s the fact that behind every bottle there continues to exist a simple and rare idea: doing business without forgetting responsibility towards the community.
Ultimately, this is what makes certain projects truly contemporary. Not the pursuit of the perfect image, but the ability to build value over time, bringing together work, local community, and solidarity.
And Villa Russiz has been doing so for over one hundred and fifty years, with a discretion that today seems almost revolutionary.
