Vitovska

Vitovska is an ancient native variety whose name comes from the Slovene town of Vitovlje in the Vipacco valley. A natural cross between Prosecco Tondo (Glera) and Malvasia Bianca Lunga, it has deep roots in the borderland shared by Italy and Slovenia. The grape was historically blended with Malvasia Istriana rather than vinified on its own, and it came close to disappearing entirely during the twentieth century. A revival began in the 1980s when local producers started championing it as a single-varietal wine, though some families in the region had never stopped growing it, maintaining continuous cultivation for up to 200 years. Vitovska was officially registered in the Italian National Register of Vine Varieties in 1991, and the Carso-Kras DOC was established in 1996.

• Name derived from the Slovene town of Vitovlje in the Vipacco valley
• Cross between Prosecco Tondo (Glera) and Malvasia Bianca Lunga
• Nearly extinct last century; revival began in the 1980s
• Officially registered in the National Register of Vine Varieties in 1991

Vitovska is grown almost exclusively in the Carso region of northeast Italy, primarily in the provinces of Trieste and Gorizia, with additional plantings across the border in Slovenia. Total cultivation sits at approximately 60 hectares, making this one of Italy's rarest indigenous varieties. The Carso is a stark limestone plateau that rises from sea level to 650 meters, with an average elevation around 330 meters. The soils are rocky limestone with a distinctive red sand stratum rich in iron, which contributes significantly to the mineral character found in the wines. The climate combines a continental plateau character with Adriatic Sea influence, producing cool nights and a growing season shaped by the powerful Bora, a cold and gusty northerly wind that stresses vines and concentrates the grape's natural intensity.

• Grown in Italian provinces of Trieste and Gorizia, and across the border in Slovenia
• Approximately 60 hectares under vine in total
• Rocky limestone soils with an iron-rich red sand stratum
• Exposed to the cold Bora wind, which shapes vine development and grape character

Vitovska produces dry white wines that range from fresh and unoaked to rich, complex skin-contact orange wines. In both styles, the grape shows a greenish-gold color and a distinctive aromatic profile built around sage, Williams pear, green apple, citrus, almond, and floral notes, with deeper expressions adding spice and prune character. On the palate, wines are medium to full-bodied, elegant and creamy, with lively acidity and a refreshing mineral finish. The grape's thick skin makes it naturally suited to extended maceration, and many of the Carso's most celebrated producers use this technique to produce orange wines with serious structure and aging potential. The variety is botanically similar to Ribolla and can be mistaken for it in the vineyard.

• Produced as fresh unoaked whites or complex skin-contact orange wines
• Aromas of sage, Williams pear, green apple, citrus, almond, and floral notes
• Medium to full body with lively acidity and a mineral-driven finish
• Thick skins make it ideal for extended maceration

The revival of Vitovska is inseparable from a group of committed producers in the Carso who took the variety seriously as a single-varietal wine from the 1980s onward. Edi Kante, Benjamin Zidarich, and Paolo Vodopivec are among the most internationally recognized names, each producing benchmark expressions that have brought global attention to the region. Other key producers include Sandi Škerk, Matej Lupinc, Castello di Rubbia under Nataša Černic, and Castelvecchio. Production remains small and geographically concentrated, keeping Vitovska a genuinely rare find outside its home region.

• Edi Kante, Benjamin Zidarich, and Paolo Vodopivec are benchmark producers
• Sandi Škerk and Matej Lupinc also produce notable single-varietal expressions
• Castello di Rubbia (Nataša Černic) and Castelvecchio round out the key estates
• Production remains small and isolated to the Carso-Kras region