Guerila
About
“My name is Zmagoslav Petrič. Guerila is the offspring of my ideas and dreams. I was born in 1956 in a peasant family. In the same year, my father Jožef received an award for reviving grapes from the old variety, Pinela. Coincidence or fate?
Memories from my childhood bring me back to the time of working on a small farm, in the vineyard, in the cellar. To modesty, sincerity, responsibility, respect and love for the earth, nature and neighbor. My father passed on these values to me and shaped me into a well-mannered man. I pass this on to my family, colleagues and people around me. They say that a man can run away from the farm, but the farm will never leave his heart…
After spending time in a career elsewhere, in 2005, a decision was conceived and Guerilla was born: a Biodynamic vineyard farm on Planina and Ajdovščino in the Vipava valley. I chose the best locations and planted vineyards with old local and native varieties on them and I built a modern winery. In my idea of viticulture, I believe in total respect for nature and I believe that authentic wine is born in the vineyard and only matures in its perfection in the cellar. Complete ecosystems exist in nature only where humans do not interfere. The key is living in harmony and balance. That's why we follow biodynamic principles in the vineyard and cellar.
The vineyards are the heart of our farm. We have 6 vineyards, Vine, Gmajnca, Preske, Pile, Zavrh, and Gabrsko. In total is 22 hectares of vineyards which means 90,000 vines. The vineyards are planted mostly with local autochthonous old varieties: Pinela, Zelen, Rebula, Malvasia, from the white varieties and Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Barbera from the reds. All of the work in them takes place in accordance with the natural cycles of the biodynamic calendar. By using biodynamic preparations, we introduce and spread microflora in the vineyards, connect plants with cosmic forces, and develop and encourage the organisms' own resistance. By increasing the organic mass, we simultaneously bring in vital energy. By using compost and green manure, we take care of revitalizing the soil and biodiversity, which is the basis for the health and harmony of the vineyard.
Guerila wines are the fruit of hand-picked biodynamic grapes from our own vineyards. Harvesting and all of the work in the cellar takes place at the appropriate cosmic rhythms in accordance with the biodynamic calendar. Fermentations are exclusively spontaneous, and all wines also undergo spontaneous biological fermentation. They are bottled without filtration and with a minimal touch of sulfur just before bottling.
The wines are grouped into three lines: Guerila classic is a fresh line of wines that matures in stainless steel tanks after a short maceration. Preservation of typical varietal aroma and taste is key for us here. This line includes Pinela, Zelen, Malvazija and Rose as well as our sparkling wines. Guerila selection are wines with prolonged maceration, matured in traditional wooden barrels. They combine elegance, drinkability and sophistication. In this line there is Rebula, Malvazija and the white variety Retro of the whites, and of the reds the Retro red, Cabernet franc and Barbera. Guerila exterme are wines of selected vintages that, after a long maceration, are fermented in traditional barrels or clay amphorae. They are bottled only after a few years. Exceptional complexity and harmony. The wines in this line are Amphora, and Amphora red.
In total, we produce approximately 70,000 bottles of exceptional quality wine annually. Behind each of these bottles is hidden nature and the efforts of our entire team. Martin, Rok, Marko, Janez, Daniela, Irena, Monika, these are people who hear the name Guerila. Without them, there is no Guerilla. Thanks to nature and the whole team for every noble drop we produce together. In Slovenian we say: Na Zdravje!”
— Zmago Petrič , Owner + Winemaker
Wines
