Malvazija Unfiltered | Ussai

TYPE: orange wine
GRAPE VARIETY: malvazija 100%
REGION OF ORIGIN: Slovenia, Vipava Valley
AGEING POTENTIAL: 10 anni
SERVICE TEMPERTATURE: 12-14° C
GLASS: calice abbastanza ampio
ALCOHOL: 14,5% vol
SIZE: 75 cl

THE WINE

TECHNICAL SPECIFICS

FRESHNESS: ◼︎◼︎◼︎◼︎◻︎
BODY: ◼︎◼︎◼︎◼︎◼︎
SAPIDITY: ◼︎◼︎◼︎◼︎◻︎
SOFTNESS: ◼︎◼︎◼︎◼︎◻︎

NOTES FROM OUR SOMMELIERS

👁 golden yellow with amber highlights;

👃🏻 the nose is very special: it should be opened early and then shows its varietal aspects.
Fruity aromas of apricot and tropical fruits; then acacia, hints of undergrowth and a hint of vanilla, as a result of slow maturation in casks;

👄 the palate is fresh and expresses a unique softness that makes it very pleasant to drink;

FOOD PAIRING

Malvasia istriana is a smooth and very versatile wine, capable of accompanying dishes of good intensity. Perfect with rice, pasta, appetizers and shellfish.

 
REFINEMENT

Pure malvasia that comes from cultivation and harvesting by hand and is already selected in the vineyard.
About eight days of maceration in the grape mixture, spontaneous fermentation with its own yeast.
Slight compression and stirring for three years in 225-litre wooden barrels where malolactic fermentation takes place.
Bottling without filtration with minimal addition of sulphur dioxide and maturation for at least 6 months in the bottle.

YOU WILL LOVE IT FOR...

its aptitude for ageing.

ORIGIN

TERROIR

It is in the Vipava Valley in Slovenia, which produces exceptional whites and reds, elegant and harmonious, with a rich bouquet. 

The characters of the wines reveal an unmistakable trace of historic winemaking tradition, infused with a dash of contemporary approach from the younger generation. Natural agriculture is a cornerstone of the region, and its most progressive winegrowers produce wines from grapes grown organically according to biodynamic principles. 

The Vipava Valley wine district is best known for its white grape varieties and the quality white blend called Vipavec. The most important and most traditional white wine is Ribolla Gialla. 

Other popular varieties include sauvignon blanc, malvasia, welschriesling, chardonnay and pinot blanc. A special place among the white varieties belongs to the autochthonous zelen, whose producers are united in the Zelen Consortium.
In some vineyards, pinot gris, muscat blanc, petit grains and sauvignonasse are also cultivated.
Red wines are not very common in the Vipava Valley, but those that are produced achieve surprising results. The predominant variety here is merlot, an essential base for superior red blends, with cabernet sauvignon.
Barbera, refosco and pinot noir are also grown.

WINERY

A family-run Črniče winery (a so-called 'boutique winery'), which produces very few wines near Ljubljana. The Ušaj family produces natural, predominantly white wines such as Ribolla and Malvasia. 

But Ušaj is also known for its red wines such as Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The whole area, the Vipava Valley (in Goriška Brda), is known for two grapes in particular: pinela and zelen. 
The production of bottles is very small because it is based on only 7 hectares of vines.