This relatively new, non-traditional winery started off as ‘Garagistas.’ Three young friends, who previously worked as a vitculturalist, winemaker and marketer for Slovenia’s largest company, decided to make their own wine in 2007, moving into an unused bakery building. Losing access to the bakery later, they have since built an ultra modern winery in an industrial estate outside of Ormoz. 

Focused on exports (80%), they have kept it simple by making one level of quality. Their aim, says winemaker Danilo Šnajder, ‘is to produce honest, truthful wines that speak about pure varieties and regional characters.’ Styles are remarkably New World-like, reductively made with emphasis on pure fruits: no maceration, crushed, then pressed into stainless steel and released fresh. Indeed, they are quite New Zealandish in some ways which makes sense because winemaker Danilo Šnajder previously worked with NZ winemaker Rob Cameron who learned his craft at NZ’s Villa Maria Estate .

Verus draw grapes from 25 hectares, split into thirds between company owned plots, owner owned and friend’s vineyards. Originally they drew on vines their parents owned, focusing on local Furmint and international grapes Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris and Riesling that could compete globally. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are more recent additions. Vine age averages around 20 years and yields are 2.2kg per vine.

Danilo tipped Furmint as having special potential, saying it ‘is the oldest, most traditional variety from the area. Austrian nobility introduced Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Riesling in the early 1800s, then Sauvignon Blanc came later in 19th C during the Phylloxera era.’

Their vineyards tend to have cool, windy nights and warm, sunny days and so a good mix of ripeness with natural acidity. 2019 was a classical cooler year, the first since 2014 whereas 2018 was warmer, more in line with 2017, 2016 and 2015. 

View Verus wine notes here