We saw the prices of the machines we needed and concluded that we could build them ourselves much more cheaply. That’s why I chose this field and assembled a labeling machine and a filler, says Marko with a smile, serving an excellent sparkling wine Sirovica Extra Brut 2019 made from Chardonnay and traditional Plešivica grape varieties. He says he has been hanging around the vineyard and cellar since the age of five, and for the past two years, he has been running the winery and handling almost everything himself. Naturally, there is plenty of work involved with 24,800 vines. He designs the labels, and he also spent five years aging this sparkling wine, which is both mature and refreshing, on fine lees in the bottle.
Dad Stjepan is 54 years old, and he started from scratch. Now he works and enjoys it, says Marko, discussing one of the latest bottles of 2023 Pinot Blanc. It was produced in two stainless steel tanks using different yeasts: one strain to highlight fruity aromas and another for floral notes. The grapes come from the Hrvojka vineyard site, and the wine is still fresh. It has 12% alcohol, with aromas of mango, banana, and citrus. The taste is full-bodied and long-lasting. We bottle 5,000 units, and it sells out, Marko adds. Their markets include Samobor, Zagreb, Velika Gorica, and Sisak, as well as Split and Zadar on the coast.
The 2022 Riesling aged for 365 days in a 2,780-liter barrel dating back to 1959, followed by 12 months in the bottle. The grapes come from the steep Bresnica vineyard site. The lower section yields higher acidity while the upper section provides sugar, and the harvest sometimes takes place in two passes. The amber 2021 Rhine Riesling Maceration was aged for 390 days in a small 225-liter barrel. We enjoyed it in silence,; it needs no words. The cellar also holds a few bottles of mature Riesling, a classic 2007 vintage, but we didn't open those. Instead, we moved on to Burgundian varieties.
The 2022 Chardonnay is soft and juicy. It was produced using wild yeasts, and spontaneous malolactic fermentation began during its year-long stay in a 500-liter barrel. It then spent another year in older 225-liter barrels refurbished by the renowned cooper Milivoj Golub from Jastrebarsko. The exquisite 2022 Pinot Noir aged for 500 days in Golub’s 1,500-liter barrels and is maturing beautifully in the bottle. It has not softened at all. On the contrary, it offers a very pleasant, lively sensation on the palate.
It also pairs beautifully with roast farm-raised duck served with mlinci, thin, dried flatbread strips. It is a classic main course the family serves to winery guests. The meal might begin with a platter of local cold cuts and cheeses, or ravioli filled with truffle cheese or a blend of fresh cheese and skuta (whey cheese).Dessert is a homemade apple pie made with sliced, not grated, apples. Finally, it is worth noting that the comparison of Marko to Dražen and Luka is no coincidence: he is as tall as a basketball player, though he actually played football. He was a goalkeeper, but his love for wine ultimately won out.
