Wine Legionnaires Season 3: Carso vs. Oslavia by Aleksandar Draganic

Carso vs. Oslavia

sasadivinasa — 2025-10-22 18:34:23 UTC

Get ready for the deep dive of the year! Thanks to Ben⁩, for March’s tasting we are pitting two fascinating regions against each other - Carso vs. Oslavia. Both sit on the border between Italy and Slovenia, both work wonders with Vitovska, Malvasia, Teran and Rebula. But their wines couldn’t be more different. Carso brings tension and raw energy, thanks to its fierce Bora winds and iron-laced karst rock. Oslavia, the temple of skin-contact wines, is all about texture and structure from its ponca soils. Same grapes, same influences, wildly different outcomes.

Theme: Carso vs. Oslavia

Type: Open

Location: Arkadas (1 Fusionopolis Vw, #01-02)

Date: 11th March

Time: 7.30pm

Marko Fon Selezione Malvazija 2021

Kante Malvasia 2015

Marko Fon 4 Stati 2021

Radikon Jakot 2014

Dario Prinčič Favola 2018

Dario Prinčič Sivi 2018

Gravner Bianco Breg 2007*

Vodopivec Solo 2013

Peter Radovič Raro 2021

*WOTN

Carso & Oslavia in Context

sasadivinasa — 2025-10-22 18:34:23 UTC

📍 Carso (Kras):
A stark limestone plateau straddling Italy and Slovenia. Windswept vineyards perched above Trieste face the Adriatic, with soils of pale limestone and red clay.

Style: Saline, taut, vertical wines.
Key grapes: Vitovska, Malvasia Istriana, Terrano.
Signature producers: Škerk, Zidarich, Vodopivec.

📍 Oslavia (Collio):
A small village near Gorizia, heartland of Friuli’s orange wine movement. Rolling hills of ponca (sandstone and marl), long macerations, and deep patience in large neutral oak.

Style: Textural, structured, contemplative.
Key grapes: Ribolla Gialla, Friulano, Pinot Grigio, Malvasia.
Signature producers: Gravner, Radikon, Primosic, Dario Prinčič.

🪨 Key Difference:
Carso expresses minerality through acidity;
Oslavia expresses minerality through tannin.

Vitovska

sasadivinasa — 2025-10-22 18:43:09 UTC

Local white grape grown mainly on limestone soils near Trieste.

Structure: Linear, saline, mineral-driven.
Aromas: Green apple, citrus peel, wild herbs, salt spray.
Texture: Fine and chalky, almost crystalline.
Producers to know: Zidarich, Vodopivec, Skerk.

Malvasia

sasadivinasa — 2025-10-22 18:44:45 UTC

Distinct local version of Malvasia, less aromatic than other types.

Structure: Medium body, moderate acidity.
Flavours: Orange peel, peach, fennel, and herbs.
Texture: Can be fresh and crisp (Carso) or rich and tannic (Oslavia) depending on winemaking.
Producers: Skerk, Kante, Radikon, Primosic.

Ribolla Gialla

sasadivinasa — 2025-10-22 18:48:37 UTC

Main white grape in Oslavia, often made with long skin contact.

Structure: High acidity, low aromatics.
Flavours: Apple, citrus, dried fruit, tea, and nuts.
Texture: Usually fermented on skins for weeks or months, giving amber colour and tannin.
Producers: Gravner, Radikon, Dario Prinčič.

Friulano

sasadivinasa — 2025-10-22 18:51:27 UTC

Traditional Friuli variety used for both fresh and skin-contact wines.

Structure: Medium acidity, medium body.
Flavours: Pear, almond, and herbs.
Texture: If in skin-contact form it has more texture, deeper colour, mild tannin.
Producers: Dario Prinčič, La Castellada, Primosic.

Terrano

sasadivinasa — 2025-10-22 18:53:04 UTC

Red grape related to Refosco, known for very high acidity.

Structure: Deep colour, low alcohol. Dry af, rustic.
Flavours: Sour cherry, plum, and iron.
Texture: Lean, electric.
Producers: Zidarich, Škerk, Radovič.

Pinot Grigio

sasadivinasa — 2025-10-22 18:55:58 UTC

Commonly made in the ramato (copper-coloured) style.

Structure: Moderate acidity, light to medium body.
Flavours: Apple, rhubarb, dried flowers, and citrus peel.
Texture: Long skin contact adds colour and texture.
Producers: Radikon, Dario Prinčič.