Wines from Skerk

History

Skerk is a small family farm on the Karst above Trieste, in the Duino Aurisina area, where Sandi Skerk began making wine in 1987. He is often credited with helping bring Vitovska, a local white grape that growers once used mainly in blends, back into the spotlight as a wine in its own right. The winery's own website is currently a holding page, so the story here rests on importer and retailer profiles.

The land and the vineyards

The estate has about 8 hectares on the Karst Plateau, roughly 250 metres above sea level and about three kilometres from the Gulf of Trieste. The soil is red and stony, rich in iron and limestone, and the climate is mild and breezy. The farm's own page mentions recent work to restore the dry stone walls that divide the plots and hold up the terraces, supported by a regional rural development programme. The grapes are Vitovska, Malvasia Istriana, Teran, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio.

The wines

The best known bottle is the Vitovska. There is also a Malvasia Istriana left on the skins, a Teran made entirely from that grape, and Ograde, an orange wine blended from Malvasia Istriana, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc and Vitovska in roughly equal parts. The white grapes spend a fairly short time on their skins.

Today

Farming follows organic principles, with light handling meant to protect the land and its biodiversity. Fermentations start by themselves with native yeasts in wooden vats, and the wines age in used oak barrels. They are bottled without clarification or filtration. The cellar is dug into the Karst rock, which keeps temperature and humidity steady.

Founded

1987 (Sandi Skerk's first wines)

Area

Duino Aurisina, Trieste, Friuli Venezia Giulia

Vineyards (hectares)

8

Main grapes

Vitovska, Malvasia Istriana, Teran, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio

Owners

Sandi Skerk