Zlati Grič
Address: Škalce 80, 3210 Slovenske KonjicePhone: +386375580360Website: http://www.zlati-gric.siContact winemaker: Sašo TOPOLŠEK // 031/304-763, info@zlati-gric.si, saso.topolsek@zlati-gric.siBranded wines // regional or single vineyard wines producedAll branded origin Stajerska Slovenia, 10% single vineyard.Owner/s RSBCNumber of hectares and grapes grown: Cold climate vine growing, 76 ha of vineyard
This ultra-modern, cleverly designed, medium sized winery is built underground, blending into its environment while reducing its carbon footprint. Utilizing ground cooled temperature control and gravity fed production, non-wine production rooms are naturally lit through large internal courtyards open to the sky.
The tasting room offers dramatic views of a magnificent old manor house on the hill above surrounded by estate vineyards. Thoughtfully restored in 1991 by RSBC (Dutch owners) as vineyard accommodation, the manor house rounds out the tourist complex which includes a high quality restaurant with amazing views further up the hill, and a nine holed golf course nestled in the valley below, surrounded by the estate’s remaining vineyards.
Annual production from the estate’s 76 hectares runs to 1.200.000 kg (around 900,000 bottles) with half of grapes coming from local growers under contract. The oldest vines are chardonnay planted in 1983, while the newest expansion has ripped out old Laski Riesling in favor of Pinot Blanc and more Chardonnay. Vineyard soils are stone laden clays, creating more fruitiness, then the flowery, spicy characters of from Maribor’s clay soils to the east (check). Zlati Gric’s soils are more like higher elevation steirmark soils to the north (double check).
Climate is on the cooler side with wet weather flowing down from Alps Austria’s steirmark, this counter balanced with continentally influenced dry winds from plains.
Generally speaking Sašo Topolšek’s winemaking philosophy (there since 1995) is highly reductive focused on stainless steel preserving primary fruit characters. That said, he is a journeyman winemaker seeking to push boundaries with more than a touch of natural yeast ferments, skin maceration and large barrel maturation.
Wine-maker Sašo Topolšek
Sophisticated tasting room
Old Hunting Lodge at centre of the estate