Radikon

In 2011, we started importing Radikon. A time when orange wine was barely known. Japan and the Netherlands were one of the few countries where Radikon was sold. It was only in the year that Stanko died that it started to become popular, 20 years after he had taken his first steps as a pioneer in orange wine as we know it today.

Located in the town of Oslavje (Friuli), on the border with Slovenia, where the war and poverty over the last hundred years are still clearly visible, Saša is in charge. His father Stanko died in 2016, from then on Saša had to do it all by himself.

In 1995, Stanko began experimenting with winemaking in a natural way and was a pioneer in the (re)discovery of orange wine. Like his grandparents, he fermented the skin of the grapes in the juice. This will give colour, but also tannins, a natural preservative.

Saša Radikon grew up with this way of making wine. When Saša graduated from his studies in oenology, he wanted to start his own project. His father let the grapes ferment with the skin for up to six months. The grapes Saša used were the same as for his father’s wines, but the time of skin maceration was reduced to 10 days. He always takes into account what the weather was like in that year. The skin plays a crucial role, because that’s what is in contact with the sun, the rain and the air. These wines were first released in 2009 under the ‘S-Lijn’ label.

Saša works completely organic and follows the moon phases to determine the various steps required in the vineyard such as pruning and harvesting. The grapes he grows are: merlot, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, tokaj and ribolla.

Saša Radikon is now known as a legend and the talent and pioneer spirit he and his father have shown serves as an example for a whole new generation of winemakers.