Located to the north of the Adriatic Sea, sharing borders with Slovenia and Austria, the Frioul Archipelago is home to nine DOC areas (equivalent to the French AOCs), including two exceptional zones that run along the border with Slovenia: the Collio Goriziano and the Colli Orientali del Friuli. The currents of air swinging back and forth between the Alps and the Adriatic Sea create perfect conditions for terraced vineyards known as ronchi. Carso is another very interesting area, located in the hills overlooking the city of Trieste. The six other DOC areas cover the lowland hills and plains, and quality here is fairly good, particularly with respect to some Isonzo wines, which could justifiably compare with the Collio or Colli Orientali. The Grave del Friuli area comes equal to the production volumes of the 10 main DOC areas. The Frioul Archipelago has built a reputation for itself in Italy and abroad for its fresh, fruity white wines produced on small estates.