The Cóllio Goriziano, usually simply called the Cóllio, is a series of hills on the border with Slovenia that enjoy the protection of the Julian Alps on the one hand and beneficial exposure to the climate of the Adriatic sea on the other. The vineyards are composed of marl and layers of Tertiary-period sandstone that used to lie under water, and provide terrain particularly suitable for the production of high quality wines. The wine route leaves from Gorizia, climbs up to San Floriano del Cóllio, then dips down to Gradisca d'Isonzo and climbs up again, through the vineyards, towards Cormòns and Dolegna del Cóllio.