We’re returning to the Ferjančič family today, to the slopes of Planina, the village above Ajdovščina with stunning views throughout the whole Vipava valley and Karst. We’ll taste their Fino white, a blend that has seen many faces since its conception and matures in oak barrels.

The story of Fino white or Fino belo starts in 2008 with the focus of producing an expressive wine combining traditional and international varieties to form a powerful, alluring wine of structure. First, it combined oak matured Chardonnay and Rebula with Zelen and Sauvignon Blanc produced in stainless vats, to the current one, expressing a wine produced following the traditional methods from the valley, using traditional and autochthonous varieties.

Fino white is a blend of Zelen, Pinela, Rebula, and Malvasia harvested and vinified together. After hand-harvesting grapes, they are destemmed, crushed and left to macerate with fermentation in open casks, called here b’dn. The mash is then gently pressed and racked into used oak barrels and around a fifth in acacia. Batonnage is conducted constantly, and malolactic conversion is too. Finally, it is assembled and waits for at least a year before coming to the market.

Fino belo shows a crystal clear, golden yellow colour and density as it quickly settles in the glass.

Aromas are alluring and intense, revealing a sophisticated bouquet of baked apple, quince, pineapple, kiwi, as well as orange and lemon peel, with hints of rosemary, vanilla, butter and hot stone.

The wine is dry and soft, reasonably warm. It refreshes us and leaves a mineral touch—an intense, full-bodied wine with a lasting persistency and pronounced elegance. Flavours of ripe stone fruit with butterines and sweet spices form a harmonious symphony that pleases our palate.

A bottle will cost you approximately 12,50 Eur, and currently, elder vintages are available at Vinoo.co, Enotheque.si, Vinodirekt and TuamV.