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At a Glance

• Skerk is one of the most highly regarded producers in Carso, a small area in Friuli's Istrian Peninsula on the border of Italy and Slovenia. This area is known for making notably elegant skin contact whites and reds with Terrano (a local clone of refosco).

• Skerk is small producer that's farming and vinifying their wines with tremendous care and precision. Skerk has only 7 hectares under vine and produces roughly 4000 sixpacks split between 4 different wines.

• Organic farming, exclusively ambient fermentations, and low intervention but very stable, polished, and age-able style.

• The name "Carso" means rocky land in celtic and the area is a plateau built on a unique iron-rich rocky porous limestone soil. Skerk's vineyards are located close to the Adriatic Sea and the Pre-Julian Alps. This specific setting creates a microclimate with marked temperature fluctuations, marine breezes and sees the full effect of the strong Bora winds that are highly valued in the area and cool down the vineyard sites.

• For all the wines, maceration takes place in Karst stone vats, the same stones that form the bedrock of the vineyards. Ograde is a blend of Vitovska, Malvasia, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Grigio with 25-35 days of skin maceration. The Malvasia and Vitovska both see 30 days of skin contact. The Terrano sees 25 days of skin contact.


About Skerk

In one of Italy's most difficult and arid regions, 500 meters from the Slovenian border is the Azienda Agricola Skerk. Sandi Skerk cultivates approximately six hectares of vineyards in this area with the utmost respect for the natural environment and employing traditional winemaking methods. The viticulture here is truly heroic. The limestone-rich, reddish, and stony soils of the plots, which are 250 meters above sea level, produce high-quality wines. In a nutshell, these wines are very interesting, straightforward, and flavorful.

Small vineyard plots are scattered across a thin layer of red soil, surrounded by porous layers of karst stone and thick grasses in Skerk's unique vineyards. The terraced vine rows supported by stacked-stone retaining walls that steeply descend toward the Gulf of Trieste and the Adriatic Sea emphasize this distinctive geography. With gentle marine breezes, the resulting mesoclimate displays significant temperature fluctuations.

Skerk's wines have their own distinctive flavor because the Bora winds blow away fog and humidity at the same time. Skerk's father-and-son team has developed patience by watching the vines develop over time and establish their roots in the soil with hope and expectation. Being a part of this laborious process of integrating into the natural world rather than manipulating it is an honor for them. They try not to put pressure on the environment. They are merely gently directing it in accordance with the guidelines that their environment has established.

Additional Details:

  • Producer: Azienda Agricola Skerk
  • Varietals: Vitoska, Malvasia, Terrano, Pinot Grigio
  • Labor Practices: Skerk wines is a family affair.
  • Organic Practice Certificates: Soil and Health Ltd
  • Sustainable Practices: In the cellar, natural procedures are preferred while invasive treatments are prohibited in the vineyard. The cellar itself is a limestone cave that allows the wines to perfectly mature in oak barrels by maintaining a proper temperature and humidity balance.
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  • Country: Italy
  • Region: Friuli-Venezia Giulia
  • Sub Region: Carso

Organic Practices

Sustainably Farmed

Vegan Process

Biodynamic