RIBOLLA GIALLA MACERATED – OSLAVIA
Protect the value
Autochthonous vine, the Ribolla Gialla finds its highest expression in Oslavia thanks to a unique mix of climatic conditions and soil mixture. The rest is artfully elevated knowledge, continuous search for meaning, stubborn affirmation of identity. The synthesis is the extraordinary elegance of these few genuine ones in body and soul, impossible to replicate anywhere else.
The unique climate
The climatic conditions of Oslavia are influenced by the presence of the Alps, which protect the land against cold winds coming from the North, and the proximity of the Adriatic Sea, which mitigates the temperatures. These two elements also condition the particularly intense rainfall in the Collio area. The Collio hills represent a very heterogeneous environment as far as temperatures, exposure and orientation of the slopes are concerned.
The hills of Oslavia, whose altitudes are around 150-190 meters above sea level, have Eocene origins, consisting of the very irregular alternation of layers of marl and sandstone, with a strong presence of minerals; by consulting the maps of the exposures, a rather high number of south facing slopes are immediately evident. Here the collection of solar radiation is greater. Even the strong wind that affects the Oslavia hills – due to winds from the east wedging into the Vipava Valley – is an important factor for the best success of the ribolla gialla, reducing the stagnation of humidity. The rather compact Ribolla bunches need excellent ventilation to avoid the risk of rot, especially in a particularly rainy environment.
Finally, by analyzing the soils, it should be noted that the Ribolla Gialla prefers poor soils, siliceous marbles or limestone and shale marls. The latter ones, called ponche, characterized by very low fertility but rich in mineral elements, are to be considered the preferred areas. The best vineyards are, therefore, those positioned on the top of the hills, where the presence of ponca is higher; here the plants will be less vigorous, more balanced, with smaller bunches and babies, without big rotting problems, richer in sugars and noble substances. After looking at this data it is therefore easy to understand the reason why Oslavia is one of the ideal and most suitable sites for the cultivation of Ribolla Gialla.
The Association of Producers of Ribolla di Oslavia
In this very small enclave of Collio, six great interpreters of this wine have joined in the Association to tell their passion, opening their cellars to those who want to discover their soul, their secrets, their character.
Dario Princic, Fiegl, Il Carpino, La Castellada, Primosic, Radikon are the wineries that are part of the Association and have taken a voluntary step to protect the Ribolla di Oslavia and the traditions so that they are handed down using shared rules, which are the result of 10-year experiences. The essential points are shared in the disciplinary proposal and then developed by the producers with different styles and processing interpretations.
Grape variety, territory and promotion
In 2011, under the direction of the Luigi Veronelli Permanent Seminar, “Ribolla Gialla Oslavia, the Book” was published, which tells the story of the association through its historical faces and its territories. Available in IT / EN / SLO / TED.
From 2018, in the first weekend of October, the Association organizes an event that supports the vine that best represents this hill – the Ribolla di Oslavia – but at the same time works with and for the territory, enhancing it in the eyes of the inhabitants and tourists. APRO is assigned the road tables “Oslavia, the country of Ribolla di Oslavia” and the “Orange benches” that represent the color of Ribolla produced by the wineries associated with APRO.
Moreover, through partnerships and alliances, the Association promotes the territory not only in Italy but also in other countries, through the press and reports, bringing greater visibility and incoming right in this border angle. Worthy of note is the partnership with Eataly Trieste for a day entirely dedicated to Oslavia, during the latest edition of RibolliAMO.
Source: ribolladioslavia.it – A.P.R.O.
Photographs by Fabrice Gallina
