Radikon

History of Radikon

The Radikon family has lived in Oslavia, a small hamlet of Gorizia in the heart of the Collio Goriziano, since 1807. The first ribolla gialla vines were planted by Stanko's great-grandfather, Franz Mikulus, with merlot, friulano, and pinot grigio completing the vineyard in 1948. From the late 1970s onwards, Stanislao Radikon, known as Stanko, took the reins of the estate with his wife Suzana and built a body of work that has become legendary.

In the mid-1990s, Stanko decided to reconnect with the white grape maceration techniques practiced by his grandfather. Initially limited to a few days, these macerations gradually stretched to several months. Going against the grain well before the current orange wine wave, he abandoned all chemical products and, from 2003 onwards, all sulfur additions. Alongside his neighbors Gravner and Kante, Stanko became one of the founding fathers of modern orange wine. After his passing in 2016, his son Saša, the fifth generation, continued this legacy with the same radical and meticulous spirit.

Terroirs and Vines of Radikon

The estate comprises approximately eighteen hectares of vines situated on steep hillsides facing southeast, along the ridge that marks the border with Slovenia. The soil, locally called ponca or ponka, is composed of layers of Eocene-origin marl and sandstone, rich in marine fossils, which lend the wines tension, salinity, and persistent finishes. The bora, a cool wind from the northeast, and the nearby influence of the Adriatic create an ideal microclimate for slow and regular ripening.

The typical grape varieties of the region are cultivated here, with ribolla gialla and friulano leading the way, along with pinot grigio, chardonnay, sauvignon, merlot, and the rare pignolo. Saša is progressively reorienting the estate toward indigenous varieties, replanting them whenever possible. The vines, some of which are over fifty years old, are tended with the utmost respect for the soil, without any chemical inputs.

Vinifications of Radikon

The estate's philosophy rests on two principles: long macerations and extended aging in wood. The grapes, harvested by hand and destemmed, ferment spontaneously with their native yeasts alone in large oak foudres. For the classic range, known as the blue label, skin maceration lasts from two to four months, followed by three to four years of aging in foudre, without any sulfur additions, and two years of bottle refinement before release.

In 2009, Saša created the S range as a gateway to maceration wines, with shorter macerations of eight to fourteen days, aging of around eighteen months in wood, and a minimal dose of sulfur. All the wines are neither fined nor filtered. True to his father, Saša also designed his own bottles, most often in a one-liter format with a slimmer cork, reproducing the ideal proportions of a magnum for optimal aging.

The Cuvées of Radikon

Ribolla: the estate's emblematic cuvée, one hundred percent ribolla gialla from vines over fifty years old. A robust and taut orange wine with a copper-hued robe, endowed with great acidity, a mineral and ferrous structure, and near-infinite longevity.

Oslavje: a blend from the classic range, now composed of equal parts sauvignon and chardonnay following the removal of pinot grigio. Rich, enveloping, and complex, it unfolds evolved aromas and beautiful depth.

Jakot: one hundred percent friulano, whose name is Tokaj spelled backwards, in response to European appellation rules. More introverted and textured, it combines finesse, structure, and great aging potential.

Sivi: the pinot grigio of the S range, whose name means grey in Slovenian, a reference to the pinkish color of the grape's skin. Macerated for approximately three weeks, it is a fruity and approachable orange wine with a delicate vermilion robe.

Slatnik: a blend of chardonnay and friulano from the S range, vibrant and luminous, designed to be enjoyed younger while still retaining the estate's maceration signature.

RS: abbreviation for Rosso Saša, the red wine of the S range, based on merlot complemented by a portion of pignolo. A complex nose of amarena cherry, plum, leather, and cocoa, a powerful and structured palate with a spiced and balsamic framework.

Merlot: a pure merlot red cuvée, vinified with long macerations and extended aging in large foudres, without fining or filtration, in a deep and structured style.

Pignolo: a red wine made from the rare indigenous pignolo grape variety, crafted like all the estate's wines without fining or filtration, bearing witness to Radikon's attachment to the viticultural heritage of Friuli.