Sanctum Bubamara
Winery: Sanctum
Classification: Dry red wine
Varietals: 80% Blaufrankisch, 20% Syrah
Appellation: Lipoglav, Lower Styria (Štajerska), Slovenia
Density & Yield: 4,000 vines/ha; 1.5 kg/vine
Annual Production: 5,000 bottles
Alcohol: 13%
Climate: Continental cool climate, with snowy and cold winters, and sunny and mild spring, with sun-drenching summers.
Terrain: Continental micro-climate on the steep hills and valleys of Lipoglav, located by the beautiful town of Loče in northeast Slovenia. All vineyards are located on steep 45˚ slopes with southern-exposure, ranging from 100 meters to 480 meters above sea level. Nights are refreshingly chilly, as the winds whip around the sharp hills and valleys. The soil made up of marl, clay and sand.
Farming: No irrigation. No herbicide. Environmentally friendly and sustainable viticulture, with respect for the land.
Vinification: Each variety is picked and processed separately. Embracing the minimal intervention approach in the cellar, hand-harvested grapes were destemmed and spontaneously fermented in open-top fermenters. 19-24 day maceration. The wines is aged for 14-18 months in used French oak barrels, and then blended before bottling, unfiltered.
Tasting Notes: Starting in the 2022 vintage, Bubamara took on new blend representative of the terroir of the region and the history of the hills of Loče.
Recent studies found that the original cuttings of Blaufrankisch (known as Modra Frankinja in Slovenia) was first found in this region in Lower Styria (Štajerska) and exported to Germany, which then found its prominence in Germany and Austria.
Now focusing on this regional indigenous variety, Sanctums perpetuates the historic viticultural history in this region with a beautiful and elegant blend of Blaufankisch and a touch of cool climate Syrah from their hiša (house) vineyard selection.
The nose pops with a harmonious blend of pepper and spices from the Syrah and vibrant black fruits from the Blaufrankisch. The palate is full and elegant with black fruits and spice, but lifted with balanced acidity and soft tannins. Truly a beautiful blend and distinctive for this remarkable region's history of winemaking.
Enjoy this wine with traditional Styrian cuisine, such as mushroom soup with seeded bread, or fried chicken or duck.
Winery Information
Sanctum
The Podkubovšek family, starting with Vlado and his son, Marko, has always cherished and been proud of this local heritage, hence the fact that all of their wines are made in a traditional style.