From: Goriška Brda, Primorje, Slovenia
Varietal: 40% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot
Taste: Ruby red color with a purple hue, evoking bramble and red cherries followed by a slight grassy, herbaceous note. Medium-bodied, boasts a gentle texture and a quite long finish. Don’t be fooled by the grape varietals in this blend, the palate here is extremely well balanced, lighter than you’d expect, and sun-kissed.
Pairing: I was trying to find a recipe for Slovenian Rolled Dumplings: Štruklji… but we couldn’t find one. So, we’re sharing a recipe for “Balkan Burgers” from Vladimir Ocokoljic, adapted by Julia Moskin. It’ll only take about 30 minutes, and should yield about 6 burgers for your weeknight enjoyment!
About. Over the centuries, heroic winegrowers have tenaciolusly terraced the steep marly slopes below the little village of Krasno to plant their vines. Goriška Brda is the enchanting westernmost region of Slovenia, nestled halfway between the Alps and the Adriatic Sea. Its rolling hills, stretching from the emerald Soča River to Friuli in Italy, are dotted with houses and farms. This unique land produces distinctly mineral wines, with a character only found in Slovenia’s Brda region.
To expand, the coastal region of Primorska, one of Slovenia’s three key wine regions, has benefited from proximity to Friuli in both its terroir and its increasing recognition as a source for outstanding wine.
With hot summers, early rains, and cooling winds from the Adriatic Sea, Primorska vineyards, like those of Friuli, practically infuse varieties like Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc with beautiful aromatics thanks to the surrounding wildlife (often referred to as “macchia mediterranea”) along with superb minerality, and great structure.
Its most prominent subregion is Brda, which neighbors Collio and features the white Ribolla Gialla grape as well as Pinot Noir and other Bordeaux varieties.
Using techniques such as extended skin contact and amphora maturation to impart lees and tannin flavors, some producers are making beautiful and complex “orange wines” from Ribolla, Sauvignon, and other white varieties.
