Vitovska is a rare white grape indigenous Slovenia. It is widely planted in the Karst/Carso region along the Italy/Slovenia border. It was found to be a cross between Malavasia Bianca Lunga (widely grown in Tuscany and used to make Vin Santo) and Glera (the grape used to make Prosecco). It is tolerant to the wide range of weather in the region, able to withstand droughts and frosty, windy winters. Vitovska is mostly used in blends but there is increasing interest in using it to make varietal wines. The varietal wines are off-dry to dry with full body. They also have distinctive sage and pear notes. If it is used in blended wines, it is commonly blended with Sauvignon Blanc or Malvasia. Vitovska was near extinction in the 1980s but was brought back and is now the most grown white grape in the Trieste province.
This week I drank a 2024 Castelvecchio Vitovska from Carso DOC. This wine is a medium lemon color with aromas of honeysuckle, lemon peel, thyme, sage, honey, ripe pears, and wet stone. On the palate, this dry fuller bodied wine has a vibrant acidity and low to medium level of alcohol. There is significant minerality on the palate in addition to the herbal, floral, fruit and saline notes. These notes slowly fade on the extended finish. The acidity in this wine would allow it to bottle age for a few years. It would also be great consumed now, especially if paired with acidic cheeses, like goat cheese and feta, creamy seafood dishes, or herbed chicken dishes.
-TheLooseTannin
A Trip Around the World of Wine in 52 Weeks 