vintage description
A mild and sunny winter with little rainfall was followed by a dry March, which resulted in relatively early budburst. Spring was cool and rainy, while warm sunny days alternated with rainy days in June. A hot summer, followed by rain at the beginning of September demanded a lot of effort from our winegrowers, which was in turn rewarded with a splendid autumn and ideal harvest conditions. Meticulous work in the vineyard, experience and commitment allowed our winegrowing members to brilliantly overcome the many challenges of this vintage. The white wines of the 2023 vintage are fresh and delicate and convince with their juicy freshness. The red wines, especially the Pinot Noir, are characterised by elegance and finesse.
- 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.
