Some time ago I’ve stumbled across an article about Tilen Praportnik’s (SteraS) new wine. As curious as a winelover can be I couldn’t help myself but call Tilen for a bottle. This weekend I got the package but didn’t manage yet to afford a sip …

What gotten me to strive for this wine is  Tilen’s passion in keeping and reviving old and forgotten Istrian wine varieties. In this wine he included some like:

• Pinjola
• Karniola
• Beli refošk (White Refosco)
• Istrska belina
• Bela borgonja
• Izolanka
• Tržačanka
• Dolski muškat
• Momjanski muškat and
• Malvazija

Now tell me, except for Malvazija have you heard of any of them? I’m telling you I can’t wait tasting it and of course I’ll share my tasting notes with you.

For those of you interesting in what the article says I’m including a translation. The article was written by Sašo Dravinec and published in Primorske novice.

”Tilen Praprotnik has planted under Šared a lot of old already forgotten Istrian autochthonous varieties. Zlati cvet, a representant of his fresh line is a blend of pinjola, karniola, beli refošk, istrska belina, bela borgonja, izolanka, tržačanka, dolski muškat, momjanski muškat and malvazija. All varieties are equally represented in this wine.  Zlati cvet, the name is taken from a Slovenian legend of a flourishing fern, is of a strawy yellow color with golden nuances. Gentle on the nose the aroma of pear outstands and is supplemented by  a grown apples and floral and citrusy note. This perceptions are then repeated in the mouth. The wine is fresh with a long and fruity end.   It is a pleasant, lightly drinking wine. Oenologically a contemporary wine wit an unmistakable archaical touch. The contact with this wine is an amazing learning hour of ransacking through roots.”

Here’s the scan of the article:

Hello wine lovers!

It’s been a while but I’ve been busy lately, hence the luck of updates. OK, let me start this years posting with an invitation to the Malvazija festival or as the official name goes ”Malvazija the Mediterranean noble taste”. It is already the 12th edition and is organized by the Association of winemakers from Slovene Istra. The festival is a 2 day event and is held March the 28th and 29th at the Manzioli palace, Izola.

The festival features winemakers from Slovenia’s wine region Primorje, with guests from Croatia and Italy. Visitors will have not only the pleasure to taste Malvazija but also to join workshops and get acquainted with the variety and learn how it combines with food.

That the Malvazija is well represented shows also the vast range of events named The Malvazija Tour which starts about a month before the festival and continue until it’s end. The Malvazija tour features events at restaurants where you’ll be able to enjoy Malvazija with the proper dish and learn something abotu it from the winemaker itself.

Here’s the list of events:

February the 25th at 7 PM

Restaurant Pikol – Nova Gorica, winemakers present: Silveri, Rojac, Santomas, Rodica Truške
Price: 40 Eur
Info and reservations: please call +386 5 302 25 62

February the 26th at 7 PM

Restaurant Ondina – Portorose, winemakers present: Montis, Santomas, Kocjančič Truške, Roja
Price: 38 Eur
Info and reservations: kuhinja.ondina@gmail.com

4th of March at 7 PM

Mahorčič Inn – Rodik, winemakers present: Rodica Truške, Martisa, Steras, Joško Renčel
Price: 38 Eur
Info and reservations: please call +386 5 680 04 00

5th of March at 7 PM

Restaurant Scabar – Trieste, winemakers present: MonteMoro, Martisa, Mahnič
Price: 35 Eur
Info and reservations: please call +39 040 810 368

9th of March at 7 PM

Villa Rosetta – Savudria, winemakers present: MonteMoro, Montis, Coronica, Degrassi
Price 35 Eur
Info and reservations: please call + 385 527 25 710, info@majda.it

11th March, 7 PM

Restaurant Majda – Gorizia, winemakers present: Steras, Marega, Bordon
Price: 35 Eur
Info and reservations: please call +39 048 130 871

12th March, 5 PM and 7 PM

Hotel Tartini – Piran, winemakers present: Mahnič, MonteMoro, Štule, Vinakoper
Price: 35 Eur
Info and reservations: please call +386 5 67 11 000, info@hotel-tartini-piran.com

16th March, 7 PM

Pizzeria Favola – Ljubljana, winemakers present: Mahnič, Ražman, Korenika & Moškon, Vinakoper
Price: 34,50 Eur
Info and reservations: please call +386 1 566 20 94

18th March, 7 PM

Villa Andor – Ankaran, winemakers present: Klabjan, Robi and Dorjano Korenika, Brič, Bordon
Price: 35 Eur
Info and reservations: please call + 386 5 615 50 00, villa@andor.si

19th March, 7 PM

Wine bar Štrigon – Portorose, winemakers present: Steras, Pucer, Silveri, Montis
Info and reservations: please call +386 5 6740340

23rd March, 7 PM

Restaurant Skipper – Koper, winemakers present: Steras, Rodica Truške, Mahnič, Markovič, Markežič, Štule
Info and reservations: please call +386 5 626 18 10

25th March, 7 PM

Restaurant Mediterraneo – Izola, winemakers present: Štule, Pucer, Vinakoper
Price: 30 Eur
Info and reservations: please call +386 5 641 7444, info@mediterraneo.si

26th March, 7 PM

Restaurant Marina – Portorose, winemakers present: Mahnič, Vinakoper, Černe, Markovič
Info and reservations: +386 5 676 13 17, restaurant@marinap.si

Whole March

You ‘ll be able to taste Malvazija the whole month of March in Ljubljana at Wine cellars of Slovenia.

As you can see the festival is quite an event and the tour is startind today. Hope to see you somewhere on the road!

Cheers!