Producer Profile: Vodopivec

Paolo Vodopivec’s vineyards are located in very close proximity to the border of Italy and Slovenia in the unique area of Carso, home to the white Vitovska grape varietal. Vodopivec focuses solely on this one grape, and takes and extraordinarily hands-on approach, from vineyard to cellar.

The area of Carso is a limestone plateau extending across the north eastern border of Italy, into Slovenia. Viticulture in the area remains very traditional, and its wines are rarely seen outside the locality. However, the fame of a handful of pioneering winemakers is slowly spreading; names like Zidarich and Edi Kante appear alongside that of Vodopivec to represent the new wave of winemaking in the region.

Vodopivec’s dedication to his vineyards is such that he tends to each vine individually, relying on natural cycles to keep the plants healthy. From these well-tended Vitovska wines, only three wines are produced. All are given six months of skin contact, but matured in differing vessels. Initially there was just one wine, matured in old oak vats, but after the 2005 vintage a new amphora wine was also released. This is matured in large terracotta vessels buried in the cellar, and given a further period of ageing in barrel. Vodopivec also releases a single-site wine, the SOLO, which is made from the most favoured part of the vineyard each year, matured in Amphora. These are powerful and distinctive wines, age-worthy and impressive.

Featured Wines:

Vitovska IGT Venezia Giulia 750ml

Vitovska IGT Venezia Giulia 750ml

Vitovska Origine IGT Venezia Giulia 750ml

Vitovska SOLO MM9 IGT Venezia Giulia 750ml