# Malvasia (2021)

- **Producer:** Azienda Agricola Skerlj
- **Colour:** orange
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Malvasia Istriana
- **Region:** Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 13.0%
- **Average price:** €29
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 10–12 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** apricot, peach, blossom, fennel, lemon, orange, herbaceous, smoke, honey, dried apricot, ginger

## About this wine

Azienda Agricola Skerlj is a tiny, family-run estate managed by siblings Matej and Kristina Skerlj in the rugged Karst (Carso) region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy. Located in the small village of Sales, just two kilometers from the Slovenian border, the estate spans only three hectares across twelve fragmented parcels. The Skerlj family history is deeply rooted in this wind-swept landscape; in the 1960s, their grandfather opened a traditional 'osmizza' tavern to serve local wine and cured meats. In 2004, Matej and Kristina took over the estate, hand-carving a subterranean cellar directly into the solid limestone bedrock to craft highly expressive, low-intervention wines that reflect their unique terroir.

## Interesting facts

- The Skerlj siblings hand-carved their entire subterranean aging cellar directly into the solid Karst limestone bedrock.
- In the cold, wet 2014 vintage, skin contact was extended to five months to build structure, resulting in a highly acclaimed, elegant wine.
- Azienda Agricola Skerlj was named one of Wine & Spirits Magazine's Top 100 Wineries in 2017.

## Food pairing

This skin-contact orange wine possesses the structural weight and light tannic grip of a light red wine combined with the vibrant, refreshing acidity of a white wine. It pairs beautifully with rich, fatty, and highly savory dishes. The wine's high acidity cuts through rich proteins and creamy sauces, while its intense salinity, mineral core, and herbal complexity complement cured meats, earthy cheeses, and roasted poultry.

## Wine making process

The winemaking process at Skerlj is defined by minimal intervention and traditional methods. The hand-harvested Malvasia Istriana grapes undergo spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts in open-top wooden vats, with no temperature control. The juice remains in contact with the grape skins for an average of three weeks, extracting color, structure, and complex phenolic compounds. Following maceration, the wine is aged for 24 months in neutral oak tonneaux within the family's hand-carved underground limestone cellar. To preserve its natural texture and aromatic complexity, the wine is bottled unfined, unfiltered, and without stabilization.