Founded in 1998 by car mechanic turned winemaker, Marinko Rodica, his eponymous winery focuses on indigenous varietals like Refošk among others, planted and farmed organically on previously abandoned land. This dry red is hand-harvested from their vineyard in the Istrian hillside. The grapes are de-stemmed and macerated briefly with their pulp and skins before spontaneous fermentation. The wine ages for 30 months in used barrique barrels until bottling. Generous aromas of dark fruit jam, cacao, forest floor and black pepper give way to a medium-bodied palate with ripe black currant, juicy cherry and notes of tilled earth and smoke with dry, velvety tannins on the finish. Pair with an Istrian-style beef goulash or black-eyed peas with stewed tomatoes.

— Producer

Gnarly Vines