Time for some sparkles! And what better choice than looking at a sparkling wine that scored 97 points at this year’s Decanter World Wine Awards. So we’ll be looking at the traditionally produced Radgonske gorice’s Zlata radgonska Penina rosé.

Did you know we’re actually at the home of Slovenia’s sparkling wine tonight? It was here that in 1852 the first official sparkling wine, or as we in Slovenia use Penina, was launched to the market by Alojz Klenošek. A young oenologist who just returned from his trip to Champagne, where he studied the craft of sparkling wine production. His first tirage counted for 12.000 bottles already.

Grapes for their production are sourced from the Kapelsko – Radgonske gorice, which span at the northeast of Slovenia. The picturesque vineyards are planted on slopes between 220 and 240 meters above sea level and are marked by a favourable continental climate. The soil is mainly a mixture of clay and sandstone or sandstone and gravel.

Selected Pinot noir grapes have been used to produce this sparkle, and as you see, the label says it’s Extra dry. This, by Slovenian law, means that residual sugars are between 12 and 17 grams per litre. So, yes, we’re a bit unique in this direction. The equivalent for Extra dry in Slovene is Suho, which means Dry to make it even trickier. This means you might approach our sparkling wine labels with a bit of caution.

This Penina is a 100 % Pinot noir produced by the traditional method with secondary fermentation and ageing sure lie for a minimum of twenty-four months. It displays a gentle, salmon pink colour with many tiny and persistent bubbles.

Its aromas are accentuated and luxurious. We perceive distinctive hints of orange peel, peach and currant. Slight notes of the rose petals are joined by refined scents of bread crust and minerality.

The palate reveals sweetness but is blended nicely with its pronounced freshness and mineral character, resulting in a delicate balance. An intense, full-bodied wine with a noble character and lasting persistency.

Bottles of this sparkle are widely available, but you can get it at their online store for the price of approximately 15 Eur.