Vipava 1894 – Pinela, Lanthieri, 2018

We’re staying in Vipava Valley with today’s choice, and I’ve picked the valley’s own, variety Pinela.

Pinela is the autochthonous variety of the Vipava Valley and is cultivated exclusively on its slopes. Usually, it is planted on poor, marly soil and is supporting dry summers well. It gives best results when grown on elevated sites.

We’re at the Vipava 1894 cellar, which has been producing wine ever since the start of cooperative organisation in 1894. It has faced many challenges through its existence, from important geopolitical shapings, two world wars and recent economic crisis. In 2017, a union of Hannes Sabathi, a renowned winemaker from Austria, and the Blaschitz family turned a new page of history for the cellar.

Vipava 1894 cooperates with approximately 350 vinegrowers and produces wines in several styles. Their main repertoire consists of the retail line, Lanthieri line which is primarily dedicated for HORECA segment, and the Terase line which marks their top range. Both Lanthieri and Terase are vinified without any addition of selected yeast.

Such is the case for this Pinela. Only the best, hand-picked grapes in the middle of September were used to produce this wine, from a few selected vinegrowers. After destemming and crushing the mash macerated at low temperatures for 10 hours, after a gentle pressing, it started with spontaneous fermentation while maturing in stainless tanks, on fine lees, over a period of 6 months. It was then bottled, and sealed with glass closures, which is unusual in Slovenia, but it assures wines won’t get issues connected to cork-taint etc.

The result is a Pinela with strawy yellow colour and a golden hue, of medium to dense texture.

Aromas are accentuated, with mature fruit in the forehead, apple, peach, apricot, mango, lemon zest, and slight notes of bread and nutmeg.

The taste is perceivably soft, with well-incorporated alcohol. It refreshes our palate and intricates us with its mineral, salty character. The taste is intense, medium-bodied, persistent and elegant.

A non-demanding, but elegant wine of pleasant drinkability that can please guests on all occasions. You can get it at Koželj and Vinoteka Sodček for an approximate price of 10 Eur, and you can get a whole box at their on-line store. It is a wine that should be drunk now and will keep in shape for the next two years. Have in mind though that the vintage 2019 has been released too.