Gabernik 23 Pikola Rose Piquette

• Grapes: 55% Blaufrankisch – 35% Riesling – 10% Pinot Noir
• Vineyard: Ritoznoj
• Vine Age: 17-years-old
• Soil Type: Grey marl
• Viticulture: Sustainable – dry-farmed
• Fermentation: Native – plastic picking bins
• Skin Contact: 4 days
• Aging: 4 days in plastic picking bins followed by 10 days in stainless-steel
• Alcohol: 7%
• Residual Sugar: .8 g/L
• pH: 3.3
• Total Acidity: 4.61 g/L
• Total SO2: 41 ppm
• Total Production: 305 cases

Gabernik 23 is a small family-owned winery in Štajerska, Slovenia. Janko Bogatic started working alongside his father in his family’s vineyards at the age of ten. While he seemed destined for a career in dairy farming, at 18 Janko was forced to return to the family property to manage the vineyards after the sudden passing of his father. Now, almost 30 years later, Janko is farming 9 hectares of vineyards situated on the slopes around Ritoznoj in the foothills of the Pohorje range. While some of the grapes are sold to another local winemaker, Janko began bottling his own wines under the Gabernik 23 label in 2018. There are many varieties planted in the Gabernik 23 vineyards, but the focus is on the less fashionable varieties, like Yellow Muscat and Zweigelt. The aim is to show that with a little love and respect these grapes can produce some stunning wines.