2021 Ferdinand - Rebula (Ribolla Gialla) Goriska Brda (750ml)

Ferdinand is a small family estate in Slovenia's Goriška Brda, guided today by agronomist Matjaž Četrtič, who revived winemaking begun generations earlier by his great-grandfather of the same name. Set on hillsides between the Adriatic, the Alps, and Friuli, the estate treats Rebula, known across the border in Italy as Ribolla Gialla, as its calling card grape, producing it in styles ranging from fresh and unoaked to long barrel-aged Épocas.

This classic bottling comes from vineyards on Brda's characteristic opoka soil, a mix of marl and sandstone, trained on simple guyot with modest yields. The hand-picked grapes are pressed gently under low pressure, and the must is chilled and allowed to settle for a day before a clean racking into stainless steel for fermentation. The wine is moved quickly off its fermentation lees to lock in freshness, skips malolactic conversion entirely, and is bottled the following summer.

The result is a pale, straw colored white with a lifted, floral nose touched by citrus, green apple, and orchard herbs. On the palate it is dry and crisp, carrying bright acidity and a clean, mineral edge that reflects its limestone and sandstone roots. It makes a fine aperitif and pairs naturally with shellfish, grilled fish, or a simple vegetable salad.