Country: Italy
Region: Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Oslavia
Viticulture: Organic farming (not certified). Low-intervention viticulture with hand-harvested grapes, low yields and a strong focus on expressing the local terroir. The vineyards sit on Ponca soils, a distinctive mix of layered marl and sandstone.
Grapes: Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc (blend varies by vintage).
Vinification: A seriously traditional approach to orange winemaking. The grapes are destemmed and gently crushed before spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts in old Slavonian oak vats. Extended skin contact lasts around three months, without temperature control or added sulphur. The wine is then aged on its lees in large Slavonian oak casks for 3–4 years before bottling unfined and unfiltered, with further bottle ageing before release.
Tasting note and best served with: Deep amber in colour, with an incredibly complex nose of dried apricot, peach, orange peel, honey and wild herbs. Full-bodied and beautifully textured, with gentle tannins, savoury spice and a long, nutty finish. Brilliant with roast meats, rich seafood dishes, mature cheeses or creamy polenta.
Producer and terroir information: Radikon is one of the true pioneers of the natural wine movement and a benchmark producer for skin-contact whites. Based in Oslavia, close to the Slovenian border in Friuli, the family has been making wine here for generations. The late Stanko Radikon helped revolutionise modern orange wine, championing extended skin maceration, spontaneous fermentation and long ageing in large wooden casks. Today, his son Saša continues the family tradition, producing some of the world's most distinctive and sought-after orange wines. Oslavje takes its name from the village itself and is a brilliant expression of the region's unique terroir and Radikon's uncompromising approach to winemaking.
Bottle size: 1L
ABV: 13.5%