Edi Simčič has been making wine for over 50 years, building on each success to start and grow his family’s winery in Slovenia. His Malvazija brings me back to the region with bright citrus fruit, chalk minerality, and sourdough — from lees aging. Located just over the border from Italy’s Collio region, this Malvazija — also known as Malvasia in Italian — shows much of the same terroir characteristics and winemaking choices as its Italian neighbor. The spelling of Malvazija suggests a nod to the collective similarities between Slovenia and both their Italian and Croatian neighbors. Several winemakers in the region have shared this sentiment with me, arguing that collectively they have more similarities than their sometimes-contentious histories suggest. This is a classically styled, ready-to-drink white with plenty of character.
Edi Simcic, Goriška Brda (Slovenia) Malvazija 2021
By Vince Simmon