Sandwiched between the Adriatic Sea and the Julian Alps, the Vipava Valley is generally categorized as having a mild sub-mediterranean climate.

The valley outlines the ancient Roman road, Via Gemina along the Vipava River, and expands from south-east to north-west. The mouth and widest part of the valley occur at the Slovenian-Italian border, which brings in warmer mediterranean air.

The eastern border is divided by Mount Nanos and the Trnovo Plateau, forming the foothills of the Julian Alps. The western valley contains a hilly topography leading to the Karst region with an abrupt ravine at the Gulf of Trieste. All of these stunning features give the Vipava Valley a beautiful landscape, and help contribute to its world class wines.

Our soils are well drained and classified as eutric cambisol—sandy loam particles with varying amounts of clay. All vineyard sites develop over flysch rock.

Clay and flysch play an import role in retaining moisture and vary greatly depending on vineyard site. All of our soils contain small flysch fragments which help reduce soil erosion. Average soil depths are medium—50cm or 20 inches.

Estate raised manure and cover crops are used to improve soil fertility.

Formed more than 60 million years ago during the Eocene Epoch, flysch or ponka, is the most distinct geologic feature of the Vipava Valley.

These weathered rocks contribute an increased perception of acidity, salinity, and mineral complexities to our wines.

Flysch is composed of limestone with layers of marl, mudstone, sandstone and shale deposits. Flysch is found in all of our vineyard sites—surface, substratum, and bedrock.

We follow the Simonit and Sirch pruning method—the leading experts on vine physiology and training techniques. Each vine is trained single cane guyot to ensure full berry composition, balanced vine vigour, and a premium crop.

We follow the golden ratio of canopy surface area/fruit set because we know low yielding organic vines produce the best fruit.

The bora phenomena is due in part to the unique physiographic features of the Vipava Valley and its close proximity to regional topographic elements. Occuring when high pressurized cold air from the Julian Alps coincides with warm air from the Gulf of Trieste, this combination can lead to wind gusts exceeding 200 km/hr (125mph). In some cases fines are issued to traffic violators who dare to drive under heavy bouts of bora.

Respecting the bora’s temper, our vineyards are planted in an east-west row orientation allowing bora winds to prevail.

Our vineyards grow along the western Vipava hills at altitudes between 200-300 meters (800-1,000 ft.) above sea level. All vines are planted at high density, and grow on tiny hillside terraces with south exposure.

Altitude plays an important role in ripening our crop with greater sun exposure and better skin development. High altitude also provides breezy wind gusts—a natural remedy to mitigate disease and rot.

We implement organic treatments during challenging growing seasons and only when necessary.

Our vineyards are first treated with preventative care—natural remedies such as pruning techniques to better manage vine vigor, canopy management, and cover crops.

In the occurrence of more serious infections and disease, organic treatments are applied in low doses with low frequency, and within the early morning hours for the greatest efficacy.