Nikolas Juretic

Cormons, located in the Collio region of Friuli, has long been outside the natural wine epicenter, which has been situated in the neighboring villages of San Floriano and Oslavia since the 1990s. Although the vineyards in Cormons are excellent, a very technical and conventional approach has persisted among the producers here for a long time. This image of Cormons is currently experiencing a significant shift, thanks to two winemakers: Nikolas Juretic and his friend Kristin Keber.

Nikolas worked for several years as a consultant for Simonit & Sirch, who teach the principle of "gentle pruning" worldwide, gaining valuable experience. A few years ago, he took over his family's winery in Collio. The vineyards, located around Cormons and rooted in "Ponca" soils (flysch, opoka: limestone sedimentary rock), have been converted to biodynamic management. The classic varieties Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, and Malvasia are predominant. In the small cellar, work is done gently, craftily, and as minimally as possible—using maceration, used wood, and only minimal amounts of sulfur.

The constant exchange with experienced winemakers in the area, such as Aleks Klinec, his meticulous and individually tailored approach to different vineyard sites, vintages, and developments in the cellar, and an incredible sense of finesse have catapulted Nikolas into the ranks of the absolute top white wine producers in Italy in a very short time. His wines possess precision and tension, freshness, and depth.