Guerila Blanc De Nature
Winery: Guerila
Classification: Dry Sparkling wine
Varietals: 100% Merlot
Appellation: Ajdovščina, Vipavska Dolina (Vipava Valley), Slovenia
Annual Production: 4,666 bottles produced
Alcohol: 12.43%
Climate: Straddling between both Mediterranean and Alpine climates, the Vipava Valley experiences dry and hot summers with mild winters. It is one of the windiest regions of Slovenia, known for its strong north-east wind Burja that reaches speeds well above 100 km/h, with individual gusts up to 240 km/h.
Terrain: Vipava Valley is right on the border of Slovenia, just north of the Italian port city of Trieste. The area is made up of steep hills, where the continental climate of the Alps collides with the more moderate mild Mediterranean climate from the Adriatic. Vineyards are located on steep, karst mountain tops, where the temperature is cooler and the soil contains mineral-rich marl, which makes it incredibly helpful in drainage of rainfall. Good fertility of the soil is ensured by the marine sediment of flysch in alternating layers with sandstone. The Vipava wine region is considered to be one of the most desirable winegrowing regions in Slovenia. The sunny south slopes are a perfect location for cultivating vineyards.
Farming: Certified Organic and Demeter certified biodynamic.
Vinification: Manual harvesting of biodynamically grown grapes, sees a short maceration, pressing and decanting of must in stainless steel. The wine undergoes spontaneous fermentation and natural malolactic. Secondary fermentation then occurs in the bottle by using natural frozen must from the same vintage, instead of dosage (sugar and cultivated yeast). The wine matures in the bottle on lees for 36 months, with no addition of liqueur at disgorgement and very low total sulfur. (<29mg/l)
Tasting Notes: Guerila Blanc de Nature is a uniquely splendid sparkling, as some of the younger Merlot vines in the valley on high elevation positions provide tremendous acidity and balance perfect for Champagne method sparkling wines. Instead of making a rose, Guerila chose to do a direct press and extended lees aging, which allows for very minimal color and tannin from the grape skins, like a “Blanc de Noir” style. The result is an exciting, complex and deliciously refreshing sparkler.
The wine pours a pale yellow with amber and rose-copper hues, emphasized by exquisitely fine bubbles. The nose is deeply rich and complex, with notes of pie crust, sweet cherry, nectarine and yellow fruits. On the palate, it is elegant and full with freshness, packed with notes of lemon cream, red cherry, a subtle minty minerality and endlessly cleansing bubbles.
This sparkling wine is a testament to what the remarkable terroirs can produce in Slovenia, with grapes that would otherwise be uninteresting, but within the right climate, farming care, and production, can create an impressive wine.
Winery Information
Guerila
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.