ZARO

_{Matej Zaro in front of Izola}

2020 MALVAZIJA PIVOL

2019 REFOŠK PIVOL

OWNER AND WINEMAKER: Matej Zaro

REGION: Izola, Slovenska Istra, Slovenia

TOTAL HECTARE: 20ha

ALTITUDE OF VINEYARD(S): 100m - 400m

PREVAILING CLIMATE & LOCAL CLIMATIC: Warm Mediterranean

SOIL COMPOSITION: Flysch and Clay

CULTIVATED: Refošk, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Negratenera, Malvazija, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Muscat

FARMING: Certified Organic

WINE(S) PRODUCED: Dry red, white skins and no skins, Rose, Sparkling

FIRST COMMERCIAL VINTAGE: 1348

TOTAL ANNUAL PRODUCTION: 80,000 bottles

LABEL ART: snakeland




^{“We are a family that produces wine and olive oil. Our ancestors settled in Izola in 1348, which is why we are fully committed to our homeland and the sea. It is like a golden thread woven into our life and work. Our vines and olive trees grow on beautiful fertile slopes above Izola, offering breathtaking views of the Adriatic. From the Gulf of Trieste to the majestic peaks of the Slovenian Alps and on sunny days the Italian Dolomites. The local traditions unite us closely with fishing as well, which is why wine, olive oil and fish are the most complete portrait of our family. To this end, we have arranged a boat, which sails on the sea. While looking at our vineyards and olive groves from the boat we offer you freshly caught fish and vintage wines. We live at the mercy of the weather, so when nature decides to show her less friendly face, we can eat and drink together in our Wine bar Manzioli in Manzioli Palace, in Izola.” Matej Zaro}




_{Grande Refošk             
photo credit: Holley Robbins}


Slovenia’s tiny slice of the Adriatic, “Slovenska Istra”, dotted with seaside villages and vineyards is idyllic. The vineyards are full of the ancient red Refošk, the grape variety par excellence of Slovenska Istra, where it is most common. Zaro is located in the village of Izola “Island”, (today it is a peninsula) and one of the villages best known for Refošk. Izola, Insula, was founded by the Romans in 1 AD. During the Middle Ages its port was vital for trading and ship building. The Republic of Venice ruled Izola for 500 years (Zaro is a Venetian surname). It was part of the Austrian Empire from 1797 until WWI when it became part of Italy, annexed by Yugoslavia after WWII, it has been part of independent Slovenia since 1991. Considering this dynamic past, Izola is particularly rich in history and culture, a benefit to the atmosphere and cuisine experienced there today.


The Zaro family farms 20 ha of organically cultivated vineyards planted in the region’s characteristic stony flysch terraces. The vines blanket an amphitheater of rocky flysch. Historically it is regarded as a cru for Refošk. In Italy Refošk is called Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, but the variety and its kin are much more important in Slovenia/Croatia than in Italy, and generally produce more interesting wines. Considering it was praised in Pliny’s Natural History, 1 AD, it is one of the longest continuously cultivated varieties in Europe. 


Izola's combination of wine and sea is idyllic. It is a little culinary microcosm that Zaro is at the center of. In addition to their vineyards they tend a number of small organic olive groves. Izola’s vineyards benefit from the seasonal wind called Maestral. It blows daily from 10am to sunset, from May to October from the sea to the land. Constant natural ventilation. Those vines closest to the water are influenced the most. These Maestral winds are a component of what has historically made Izola so well suited to cultivation of Mediterranean crops like grapes and olives. The soil if the area is ubiquitously Flysch, a type of sedimentary rock that is formed from the deposition of alternating layers of sandstone and shale. Flysch is well draining, erosion resistant and a good source of minerals and nutrients, essential for plant growth. It is typically found in mountainous regions. Flysch is a relatively young rock, and it is often found in association with other sedimentary rocks such as limestone.

The abundant sunshine, typically windy conditions and nutritious soils require little additional input in the vineyard. Sulfur and copper are sprayed only through July and typically no more than 4-5 times a season. Like his grandfather, Matej is motivated to make wine because of the gifts of the land. While some vintages are better than others Matej is consistently impressed by what the vines can do. Whatever surprises they deliver to the cellar the surprises lean positive and indicative of new possibilities for the Zaro wines. If the winery were to be reduced to a single wine it would be their Pivol Refosk. Second to that would be the Pivol Malvazija. These are both benchmark examples of their types. Though one a white variety and one a red the vinification of them is similar to each other. From the less exposed positions Matej makes EAZY ORANŽNA and EAZY REFOŠK, simpler more everyday Izolan wines.