Gordia 'Natural Bubbles'

when I visit this part of the world…. like when I walk from a friend's place in Italy to a friend's place in Slovenia, past the old guard station and now-decrepit barbed wire gate. Long walk, mind you - but possible because the occupation did end and friends were able to reunite. Families and vineyards were able to reunite - it’s a good reminder that even in these crazy times, community really does mean everything!

This is a magical place just above the Gulf of Trieste with vineyards that receive salty, foggy breezes just when needed and sunny rays at the perfect moments. Andrej is still a chef but his restaurant is mostly closed so he can focus on his amazing grapes and to allow the time to create wines that are almost like capturing the magic of this place in a glass! 

And tbh, create is the wrong word. As most vignerons (farmers/winemakers) in the natural world, Andrej doesn’t “create” as much as he enables! With some pruning and cover crops in the vineyards plus gentle hand-picking, the grapes arrive in the cellar at their very best moment. For the ‘Natural Bubbles’, he picks Refosk (known as Refosco in Italy) and a bit of Merlot. They ferment and are bottled just before the fermentation is finished to allow all those yummy bubbles to get created. Also known as Petillant-Natural or Pet-Nat, this is so freaking good that it is hard for me to not take it home EVERY SINGLE DAY!! 

Darker in color that I was expecting but bursting out of the glass with spice, marionberries and Damson plums - lovely little bubbles race across your tongue adding to the textural notes of this perfect wine. 

Careful when you open it - this is alive AF and you don’t wanna lose one single drop!