Paolo Vodopivec's monovarietal Vitovska ferments in buried qvevri with indigenous yeasts and extended skin contact (6 to 12 months), with sulphite added only in a minimal dose at bottling.
Tip: Vodopivec is a Carso reference for low-sulphite bottling; the qvevri programme runs without temperature control through the Carso winter.
Address: Localita Colludrozza, 4, 34010 Sgonico, Trieste, Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Paolo Vodopivec farms six monovarietal Vitovska hectares biodynamically at Sgonico on the Carso limestone karst and ferments in buried Georgian qvevri amphorae with no temperature control and indigenous yeasts.
Tip: Vodopivec's Vitovska is the Carso reference; the cellar bottles only the variety and the three expressions show different qvevri ageing windows.
Sandi Skerk farms seven organic hectares at Sgonico on the Carso limestone karst and bottles Vitovska, Malvasia Istriana, Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio and Terrano on extended-skin-contact programmes.
Tip: Skerk's amphitheatre-shaped tasting room cut into the karst is the cellar's signature visit experience; book the tour to see it.
Josko Gravner farms 18 hectares biodynamically at Oslavia and ferments Ribolla, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Pignolo in buried Georgian qvevri amphorae before long oak elevage.
Tip: Ask for an older-vintage Ribolla and Bianco Breg flight; Gravner releases the wines only when the cellar considers them ready, and library vintages show the slow-oak-and-qvevri evolution.
Stanko Radikon (until 2016) and now sons Sasa and Ivan run the Oslavia cellar with extended-maceration Ribolla, Jakot (Friulano), Pinot Grigio and the Oslavje blend, all bottled at 500 ml to match a drinking session for a low-sulphite skin-contact wine. Organic and biodynamic-practising farming across the Oslavia ponca slopes.
Tip: Radikon's 500 ml format is the cellar's signature; ask for the Oslavje blend alongside the solo Ribolla to read the cellar template across two cuvees.
Damijan Podversic farms 12 hectares above Gorizia organically and biodynamic-practising, with extended-skin-contact Ribolla, Friulano, Chardonnay and Malvasia Istriana whites and a Merlot-Cabernet red.
Tip: Damijan's address sits above the city of Gorizia rather than at the Oslavia hamlet, so pair the visit with a Gorizia morning before driving up to Gravner or Radikon.
Paolo Vodopivec farms six monovarietal Vitovska hectares biodynamically at Sgonico on the Carso limestone karst and ferments in buried Georgian qvevri amphorae with no temperature control and indigenous yeasts.
Tip: Vodopivec's Vitovska is the Carso reference; the cellar bottles only the variety and the three expressions show different qvevri ageing windows.
La Castellada in the centre of the Oslavia hamlet farms eight organic hectares; the Bensa family runs the cellar with extended-skin-contact Ribolla, Friulano, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Sauvignon.
Tip: La Castellada sits within walking distance of Gravner and Radikon at Oslavia; arrange all three on a single morning if the appointments line up.
Sandi Skerk farms seven organic hectares at Sgonico on the Carso limestone karst and bottles Vitovska, Malvasia Istriana, Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio and Terrano on extended-skin-contact programmes.
Tip: Skerk's amphitheatre-shaped tasting room cut into the karst is the cellar's signature visit experience; book the tour to see it.
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