Tenuta Est Bianco
Winery: Tenuta Est
Varietals: Chardonnay
Appellation: Rogljevo-Rajac, Negotin Valley, Timok Region, Serbia
Density & Yield: 4.500 vines/ha, 1 kg/vine
Annual Production: 2,700 bottles
Alcohol: 13.5%
Climate: Continental: Hot summers, and cold/mild winters. In recent years, temperatures have fluctuated significantly, with summers growing drier and winters experiencing less snow but more rainfall.
Terrain: The vineyards are positioned 150 meters above sea level, south-facing and there are located 2 km from the Timok River. The soil is very different from one vineyard to another but mainly it is a mixture of clay, sand and silt, with some limestone.
Farming: Practicing Organic: viticulture with no irrigation and no herbicide.
Vinification: Hand harvested in mid-September; Whole cluster pressed without any skin maceration, followed by 5-6 hours of hyper-oxidation before fermentation. The wine then undergoes spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel and aged on the lees for 12 months until bottling without filtration.
Tasting Notes: When Marko arrived in the Negotin Valley, he had been working with a French couple from Burgundy who found that the soils and position in Rogljevo was exceptional terroir for Chardonnay. These were some of the first grape varieties Marko planted, but he takes on a unique winemaking process utilizing a technique during fermentation called hyperoxidation – a practice within the world of Chardonnay commonly referred to as “black Chardonnay”. This process is a return to ancient practice, introducing ample oxygen to the juice as a natural preservative through vigorously smashing the fruit and aggressive aeration through pour overs, resulting in a dark brown/black colored juice. As the fermentation progresses the dark color precipitates, as well as any bitterness and astringency, producing a golden-colored, naturally stabilized and surprisingly light and developed white wine.
As Marko shares why he enjoys it:
“For me, Bianco is a wine you can happily enjoy by the glass, but also spend a little time with. It’s easy to drink, yet has plenty to discover, especially if you decant it and let it open up. On the nose, there are lovely aromas of pear and peach, while the palate shows a distinct mineral character. It’s also a wine I really enjoy sharing over a good meal with good company”.
Winery Information
Tenuta Est
Tenuta Est is an exciting small winery located in the far eastern reaches of Serbia. It was established and is run by the young and talented winemaker, Marko Obradović, whose remarkable journey through Italy and France led him to this remote, historic winemaking region in Serbia. Marko took on the challenge of taking part in reviving this ancient winemaking tradition and helping bring new life to this region with deep roots in viticulture.