

Zidarich Malvazija Venezia-Giulia Bianco 2020
ZidarichGrape: Malvasia
Vintage: 2020
Type: White
This low-intervention white wine is a pure varietal expression of malvasia grown on the limestone hillsides of the Carso. Winemaker Benjamin Zidarich utilizes traditional cellar protocols to capture the essence of pure stone from the rugged terrain. The hand-picked grapes undergo a spontaneous native fermentation and skin maceration driven entirely by wild vineyard yeasts inside open tuns. The wine matures naturally for several months in large neutral Slavonian oak barrels, completely avoiding modern clarifications.
It pours a deep golden hue, releasing clean aromatics of crunchy mango, white pepper, and lemon verbena. On the palate, a medium-bodied frame balances savory fruit flavors with a chiseled mineral core driven by the limestone. A lively wave of natural acidity cuts right through the slightly waxy texture, keeping the mouthfeel thoroughly refreshed. A subtle honey undertone develops beautifully as the core expands. It finishes long, bone-dry, and mineral-drenched.
Zidarich is Benjamin Zidarich's biodynamic estate in the Carso, the limestone plateau above Trieste where vines struggle through iron-rich red earth and fractured rock. Beginning with one hectare in 1988, Benjamin expanded the domaine while centering it on Vitovska, the region's emblematic white grape, alongside Malvasia, Sauvignon and the local red Teran. His five-level cellar is carved deep into the limestone beneath the vineyards and allows wine to move largely by gravity. Extended skin contact, native fermentation and patient aging produce textured, savory wines whose salt, herbs and mineral grip feel inseparable from the harsh, wind-shaped landscape.
