Tonight we’re moving to Štajerska Slovenija. We’re at the sole border with Austria, at a super modern winery run by the Kopše family, which has been releasing wines under the Doppler brand. The turn tonight to look at their expressive Šipon, a wine marked by maceration and maturation in stainless vats and large neutral casks.

I’ve been acquainted with the Kopše family for about nine years now, and I’m thrilled to have been able to follow the evolution they underwent during this time. Probably one of the biggest is happening now, as they joined forces with an external oenologist and launched their redesigned wine labels, each featuring a story. Still, when merged together, we learn about their heritage.

The cellar is atop a hill with a 360-degree view throughout the valleys, and trust me when I say that sunsets there are like something escaped from a fable … Well, the adventure for me started there, but having the opportunity to look at their super modern wine cellar was like a fable come true. Everything sits at 380 meters above sea level between vertically positioned vineyards facing south and the forest to the north.

This Šipon, as now you know already, is actually a Furmint variety, and you’ll find the name only in Slovenia. It’s a wine produced to express the best this variety can give, and by this, I mean temperature-controlled short maceration, fermentation and short maturation in neutral vessels.

It vests a golden yellow, crystalline colour, with dense texture, quickly settling in the glass and leaving slow slipping tears.

Its sophisticated bouquet indicates ripe fruit. We notice yellow apple, pear, gooseberry, as well as kiwi and passion fruit, orange peel, lemon blossom, grass, and at the same time, a slight note of butter and vanilla.

The mouth leaves a touch of residual sugar just to feel off-dry. It acts soft and quite warm, simultaneously with a crisp freshness and a mineral saltiness. A wine of intensity with an elegant taste of lasting persistency and a structured body. Flavours of citrus, melon, pear and gooseberry are repeated in the mouth.

A wine that, thanks to its freshness and gentle residual sugar, has all the attributes to last for at least three years. A bottle will cost you approximately 9 Eur, and currently, you’re able to get it only by contacting the winemaker at +386 41 73 73 73 or by sending an email to lina@doppler.si.