a love letter to stajerska, slovenia
This Thursday’s tasting features a winery that has truly informed a large part of a personal journey and interest in the world of Eastern European wine & culture. It’s as close to a love letter as a wine tasting can get. Kobal is situated in Stajerska - Slovenia’s corner of the hilly Styrian wine region which continues to stretch into Austria. If you are a lover of mineral driven, textural, intense but semi-aromatic white wines - these will rock you and move you in a way that is difficult to put into words. The wines from both sides of the border feel equally chiseled from stone and drenched in sunlight; almost like an exquisite marble statue.
Early on in my wine career, my affection and curiosity for Eastern Europe evolved in tandem with my developing preferences toward natural wine. Kobal was one of the first wineries in my introduction to Eastern Europe by way of a love affair with Austria. On three separate occasions, and over the course of 10+ years, these wines have stopped me dead in my tracks. First, as in introduction to the Slovenian portion of the beloved region of Styria; second, as an introduction to the beloved Hungarian grape Furmint; and third, and most recently, unbelievably high quality pet-nat made from local Styrian grapes. In the land of pastoral village wine, I cannot emphasize how much thoughtful innovation and attention to detail it takes to stay relevant in a way that this small; remote winery has, all while remaining classically-styled and broadly accessible.
Sharing these wines in such an extravagant breadth has incredible meaning, and I truly cannot wait to introduce them with you.
2021 Kobal “Sipon Roots” Furmint
2020 Kobal “Bajta Belo” White Blend
2021 Kobal Blaufränkisch
2021 Kobal “Bajta” Muskat Pet-Nat
2022 Kobal “Bajta” Blaufränkisch Pet-Nat
Each Thursday evening, from 6:30-7:30 PM, we open 3-4 bottles we find inspiring and thought-provoking. A $5 tasting fee, refundable with the purchase of any bottles from the tasting, gets a guided flight with our Sommelier, Ali Innes.
