Malvasia Skerlj 2022

The Malvasia di Skerlj is a white wine made with skin contact, originating from the wonderful territory of the Trieste Karst. On this white limestone plateau, buffeted by the bora wind and overlooking the blue sea of the Gulf of Trieste, Matej Skerlj cultivates the vines of Malvasia Istriana, a particular non-aromatic clone of this ancient Greek-origin grape variety. It is a wine of character that, thanks to the contact with the skins, offers very intense and complex aromas, ranging from Mediterranean scrub herbs to fruit, with iodized and marine memories. It is a unique white that manages to narrate the stony and austere landscape of this slice of the Mediterranean nestled in Central Europe.

The Malvasia Istriana Skerlj is crafted by a young and talented winemaker, who has established himself as one of the most interesting personalities in the Karst landscape. Matej and Kristina Skerlj passionately manage the small family estate, producing artisanal high-quality wines that represent one of the best interpretations of the land of Carso. The vines sink their roots into rocky and poor soils, which naturally limit production. The grapes are vinified following the natural transformation of the must into wine, with minimal oenological intervention and always aiming to enhance the varietal notes and the mineral and stony characteristics of the lands of the Karst.

The orange wine Malvasia di Skerlj is born from the typical soils of the Karst area, characterized by a limestone bedrock, often exposed, covered by a thin layer of red soil rich in iron minerals. A difficult and laborious viticulture, which however yields wines with a unique personality. At the end of the harvest, the grapes ferment in wood with indigenous yeasts and skin maceration. It matures for 24 months in wooden barrels and is bottled without any filtration. In the glass, it presents an intense golden yellow color with slight amber reflections. The bouquet recalls aromas of citrus zest, aromatic herbs from the Mediterranean scrub, yellow fruit, ripe apricot, exotic fruit, and soft hints of orange honey. On the palate, it is intense, with aromas that are multifaceted and rich, anticipating a persistent, fresh, and savory finish.