About Damijan Podversic
Damijan Podversič is a small, independent producer based in Oslavia, in the Collio zone of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, near the Slovenian border. He is known for producing natural, unfiltered orange wines made from indigenous varieties such as Ribolla Gialla, Malvasia, and Tocai Friulano, using extended maceration on the skins. His approach is rooted in minimal intervention in both the vineyard and cellar, and he is considered a key figure in the natural and skin-contact wine movement in northeastern Italy.
Prices are for take away and shipping. The wine bar serves from its own list.
The winery
About Damijan Podversic
History
Damjan Podversic, often written Damijan, was born in Oslavia, a village in the Collio Goriziano on the Slovenian border, and is the son of a village innkeeper. In 1988 he began restoring abandoned vineyards on the hills around the village and started the winery that carries his name.
His teacher was Josko Gravner, who is said to have taught him a way of thinking about wine before he taught him viticulture. The first wines under his own label date from the late 1990s.
The land and the vineyards
The vineyards lie on a hill in Oslavia, between Monte Calvario and Monte Sabotino, at 90 to 180 metres above sea level. Most of the best plots face south and are bordered by woods. Press accounts give the planted area as somewhere between ten and fifteen hectares.
The soil is the local ponca, or flysch, made of alternating layers of marl and sandstone. It drains well yet holds enough moisture for deep roots to reach in dry spells.
The wines
Ribolla Gialla, Malvasia, Friulano, Malvasia Istriana, Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio are the grapes. The whites are left on their skins for long periods, which gives them colour, grip and a long life in the bottle.
Six labels are made. Kaplja and Prelit are blends, Ribolla Gialla, Malvasia and Pinot Grigio are bottled as single varieties, and Nekaj comes only from Friulano. The vineyards could yield about 60,000 bottles, but around 38,000 are produced because full ripeness arrives in only every other year.
Today
The winery is a family affair. Damjan has spoken about stepping back, and his daughter is expected to take over the work in the vineyards and cellar.
- Founded
- 1988
- Vineyards (hectares)
- about 10 to 15
- Main grapes
- Ribolla Gialla, Malvasia, Friulano, Pinot Grigio
- Winemaker
- Damjan Podversic