The grapes for Verjan come from an old family vineyard in San Floriano del Collio. It was planted back in the 1960s when—in keeping with local tradition—they didn’t limit themselves to just one grape variety but instead planted three different ones in the Ponca soils (the local equivalent of Styrian Opok). Pinot Grigio sets the tone, but Chardonnay and Malvasia also grow alongside it.
Although the vines on the gently sloping hillside play the leading roles, fruit trees can still be found scattered among them. Nikolas Juretic didn’t change that when he took over the estate in 2018. On the contrary: thanks in part to biodynamic farming practices, he actively promotes the biodiversity of his vineyards.
The grapes are harvested and fermented together. Unlike the Mont and Gran Waldo, the Verjan sees a slightly longer maceration, though the juice usually remains in contact with the skins for no more than a week. That’s enough to extract the desired aromas and give the wine the appropriate grip and structure. It is aged for just over 11 months in oak.
Technical Sheet
Varieties: Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Malvasia Istriana Vineyard: An old family vineyard in San Floriano (Steverjan in Slovenian, which also explains the wine’s name). Harvest: By hand Fermentation: Spontaneous | wild yeasts | a few days on the skins in concrete Aging: Used oak barrels Filtration: None SO₂: < 25 mg/l Alcohol: 12.5% vol. Closure: Natural cork Serving temperature: 10–12 °C Optimal drinking window: From now until 2038 Content and price per liter: 0.75 l (€49.98/l)
All winemakers listed by Vinonudo work in their vineyards with compost, organic fertilizer, and natural preparations, and refrain from using herbicides, pesticides, and synthetic fertilizers.
