vintage description
After a mild and rainy winter, a warm and pluvious March led to early budding. Apart from a few hot days in April, it was wet and cool until the end of June. A warm summer was followed by an autumn with frequent spells of rain, which delayed ripening. Overall, it was a challenging year in viticulture, which demanded a lot of work from the winegrowers. Thanks to the consistent implementation of our quality philosophy, the experience of our producers and the cooperation within the cooperative, grapes of remarkable quality were harvested, particularly with regard to the white grape varieties and Pinot Noirs. The white wines of the 2024 vintage are delicate and fresh.
- grapes: Chardonnay 65%, Sauvignon 20%, Pinot Blanc 10%, Gewürztraminer 5%
- yield: 45 hl/hectare
- altitude: over 400 m, mostly from 500 – 600 m
- slope exposure: southeast 90 %, south 10 %
- harvest: end of September – mid- October
- soil: gravelly to rocky, limestone and loam, rich in minerals.
- age of vines: 10 – 40 years
- climate: extreme interplay of sunny days influenced by the Mediterranean climate and cool nights marked by the cold downslope winds from the surrounding mountains.
- bottles produced: approx. 64,300, 1000 magnum bottles and few other large formats
winemaking
At harvest, the grapes are delivered in small bins and immediately gently pressed. The must ferments slowly at controlled temperatures (18-20°C) in wood barrels (30 – 40 hl), in which partial malolactic fermentation occurs. The wine is clarified through natural sedimentation of particles.
MATURATION
Stoan matures separately in large wood barrels (30-40 hl), at constant lees contact until the end of August. After blending and bottling, the wine matures in the bottle for at least another 3 months. Total maturation period is thus at least 14 months.
