Another gem in Vipava Valley is Vina Žorž.
Vina Žorž is a family-run winery in the small village, called Slap. They have almost 12 hectares of vineyards, which makes them one of the largest in Vipava Valley. 1696 represents the year when the wine production started in the family Žorž. And they are still going strong!
Vina Žorž also offers a B&B at the property. The rooms are completely new, well designed, and offer great comfort. The breakfast was amazing, they offered a lot of local products. The best thing about the rooms? They have a fridge for wine bottles :O Take a look at the pictures below.
TASTING NOTES
SAUVIGNON 2018
- Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc 100% (in Slovenia only Sauvignon is used)
- ABV: 13%, dry, medium - acidity.
- Color: medium lemon-gold.
- Medium + aroma intensity. Aromas of yellow fruits, melon, apple, yellow ripe fruits.
- Medium - flavor intensity. Flavors of light smoke, oaky, vanilla, baked apple tart.
- Medium - body, medium - finish.
* Harvested in the first half of September.
* Production: 8 hours of cold maceration. Fermentation 50% in stainless steel and 50% in used oak barrels (for 6 months). Maturation for 6 months in stainless steel vessels.
PINELA 2018
- Grapes: Pinela 100%
- ABV: 13,5%, dry, medium - acidity.
- Color: medium lemon-green.
- Medium aroma intensity. Aromas of pineapple, tropical fruits.
- Medium + flavor intensity. Flavors of baking spices, ripe fruits, red grapefruit.
- Medium body, medium - finish.
* 2 days maceration. Fermentation 20% in oak and 80% in stainless steel vessels - mixed after 1 year.
ZELEN
- Grapes: Zelen 100%
- ABV: 12,5%, dry, medium - acidity.
- Color: pale lemon-green.
- Medium - aroma intensity. Aromas of yellow fruits, apple, rosemary.
- Medium flavor intensity. Flavors of green apple, lime, fresh pineapple.
- Medium body, medium finish.
* 6 hours of cold maceration. Fermentation 20% in oak and 80% in a stainless steel vessel, mixed together after 1 year. Maturation for 6 months in stainless steel vessels.
ORANGE WINES - the next three wines we tasted side by side, all of them are orange wines, but from different grape varieties and slightly different production processes.
REBULA 2018
- Grapes: Rebula 100%
- ABV: 13%, dry.
- Color: medium gold.
- Medium - aroma intensity. Aromas of yellow fruits, melon, yellow ripe fruits, smoky, baked fruit tarts.
- Medium - flavor intensity. Flavors of light smoke, minerality, light baking spices.
- Medium body, medium - finish.
* Maceration and fermentation of 14 days in used oak. Maturation of 1 year in used oak barrels.
SIVI PINOT 2018
- Grapes: Sivi Pinot
(Pinot Gris/Grigio) 100%
- ABV: 13,5%, dry, low acidity.
- Color: medium orange?!.
- Medium + aroma intensity. Aromas of red-orange, nectarine.
- Medium flavor intensity. Flavors of nectarine, red-orange, red apple, some influence from the oak.
- Medium body, medium - finish.
* Maceration of 2 weeks in used oak barrels, fermentation occurs at the same time.
* Maturation of 1 year in used oak barrels.
PIKOLIT 2006
- Grapes: Pikolit 100%
- ABV: 17,5%, sweet.
- Color: deep gold.
- Medium + aroma intensity. Aromas of caramel, sweet ripe fruits, raisins, dried sweet fruit.
- Medium + flavor intensity. Flavors of plum jam, quince, caramel, roasted nuts, almonds.
- Full body, medium + finish.
* Harvested towards the end of September.
* Dried whole cluster for 2 weeks. + 2 months on straw (it loses water and gains sugar).
* From 2006 till 2019 in barrels.
* Pikolit is a local grape variety.
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2015
- Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon 100%
- ABV: 13%, dry, medium - acidity.
- Color: medium ruby.
- Medium + aroma intensity. Aromas of red fruits, plums, purple fruits, blackberry, oak notes.
- Medium flavor intensity. Flavors of baked plum, baked cherry, burned oak, baked ripe red fruits.
- Medium tannins, medium body, medium + finish.
* Maceration of 3 weeks.
* Maturation in 2000L new oak barrels for 2 years.
MERLOT 2013
- Grapes: Merlot 100%
- ABV: 13%, dry.
- Color: deep ruby.
- Medium + aroma intensity. Aromas of cooked berries, plums, purple fruits.
- Medium flavor intensity. Flavors of cooked red fruits, strawberries, chocolate, oaky notes.
- Medium tannins (very smooth and soft), medium body, medium + finish.
* Late harvest.
* Maceration of 1 month.
MERLOT BLACK LABEL 2015
- Grapes: Merlot 100%
- ABV: 14,5%, extra dry.
- Color: deep purple.
- Medium aroma intensity. Aromas of baked fruits, oak, licorice.
- High flavor intensity. Flavors of ripe strawberry, cooked fruit, red fruits.almonds.
- Full body, medium + finish.
* 2 years in barrque barrels, 1 year on lees.
* Same production method as Pikolit.
The last star of the tasting was a Cognac or locally called Vinjak. It is kept in barrels until someone orders it or they use it for tastings. Unfortunately, I do not have tasting notes on Vinjak, since sprits are not my strong side. But it was good. :)
ps. All the information about the wines were provided by Anja and are also available on their webpage.
During the tasting, we were served a homemade "narezek" with local tomatoes, cheese, ham, and tapas (I wish there was a bit more tapas). With freshly baked bread. For the serving plate, they have used a part of an old barrel, which was a nice detail.
After the tasting, we moved to the yard where we enjoyed one more narezek and a few glasses of wine.
Feel free to share and have a WINEderful day! :)