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Skegro Family Winery Skegro Krš Orange Žilavka
(Carefully curated notes below are taken from the website)
Varietal Composition: Žilavka Orange Wine
Location: Bosnia & Herzegovina
Specialty Factor: Very rare and extremely limited quantities
Cellar Aging: Drink now or cellar until 2029
A Few More Details
Žilavka, local native variety of Hercegovina, interesting historical parentage with one known parent (Alba Imputotato x unknown), very resistant to drought and medium sensitivity to fungal diseases. 20 days of skin contact, wild fermented, unfiltered and with no added sulphites.
Tasting
The Škegro Krš Orange Žilavka is an orange wine with extended skin contact, offering a rich texture, vibrant acidity, and complex flavors of dried fruits, nuts, citrus peel, and subtle tannins.
“It slowly opens up in a glass, tight at first but soon cidery apple and pear notes prevail. Salivating acidity brighten through the palate. This orange Žilavka bursts with energy, but nothing feels rough or raw. Mouthfeel is clean and gentle, tannins softened as a proof of very skillful winemaking.”
Food Pairing Suggestions from the Winemaker
- Grilled or Roasted Fish – Sea bass, halibut, or trout complement the wine’s citrus and herbal notes.
- Octopus or Squid – Charred or grilled seafood enhances the wine’s minerality.
- Shellfish (Shrimp, Scallops, Lobster) – Especially with garlic, butter, or saffron-infused sauces.
- Roast Chicken or Duck – The wine’s acidity cuts through the richness of roasted poultry.
- Pork Tenderloin with Herbs – A great match with thyme, rosemary, or sage-seasoned pork.
- Lamb or Veal with Mediterranean Spices – Complements dishes with sumac, coriander, or saffron.
- Mushroom-Based Dishes – Risotto, grilled portobellos, or wild mushroom pasta enhance the wine’s earthy notes.
- Roasted Root Vegetables – Beets, parsnips, carrots, and butternut squash bring out its fruit and spice.
- Spiced or Fermented Foods – Kimchi, miso-glazed eggplant, or Moroccan tagines work well with its bold character.
About:
The Skegro family vineyards are mostly consisted of vines planted in 2005 in the small village of Radišići, in the southwestern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. They have 2 hectares of south facing and terraced vineyards, which were cut into the hillside, rich with calcareous marl, sandstone and flint. Mostar, being within an hour from the Croatian coastline, offer a very similar climate: Mediterranean influence with extreme hot summers and mild winters. The family’s estate is also filled with fruit trees such as figs, citrus, and pomegranates as well as basic produce and some good olive oil from their extensive olive trees. Olive trees are similarly scattered amongst the vineyards to offer diversity and support the erosion of the rocky soils. Farming is all organic, utilizing natural cover crops, utilizing manure or organic fertilizer when needed along
with copper and sulfur. They do not use herbicides or pesticides. As the vines continue to mature, they are on their way to organic certification. All harvesting is done manually.
Source: https://www.vinumusa.com/wines/skegro-krs-orange-zilavka https://www.vinumusa.com/wineries/skegro
Cantina Terlano Lagrein Gries Riserva 2020 Alto Adige DOC
(Carefully curated notes below are taken from the website)
Varietal Composition: 100% Lagrein
Location: Alto Adige – Italy
Specialty Factor: Because this is considered one of the best Lagreins produced in Europe, only around 50 cases make it to the US yearly.
Cellar Aging: Drink now or cellar until 2030
A Few More Details
“The alluvial soils in the Bolzano suburb of Gries are ideal for the indigenous red Lagrein wine, which is mentioned in a historical document dated 1379. Our Lagrein Gries is impressive for its fruity berry aromas as well as for its noble spicy notes and juicy balanced body.” Rudi Kofler
Tasting Notes
The aroma reveals earthy, minerally notes masterfully underpinned with fruit components, with morello cherry, dark chocolate and plum jam dominating. These spicy and yet velvety fruit notes also intrigue the palate, where this Lagrein Riserva presents itself with multilayered opulence and great complexity.
Food Pairing
- Grilled or Braised Beef – Short ribs, ribeye steak, or beef stew match well with the wine’s bold tannins and dark fruit.
- Lamb Chops or Leg of Lamb – The wine’s earthy and spicy notes highlight lamb’s gamey richness.
- Venison or Wild Boar – The depth of Lagrein complements lean game meats with berry-based or herbal sauces.
- Duck Breast with Berry Reduction – Enhances the wine’s vibrant acidity and dark cherry/plum flavors.
- Mushroom or Truffle Risotto – The wine’s earthy and spice notes pair well with umami-rich dishes.
- Eggplant Parmesan – The wine’s acidity cuts through the richness of the dish, while its dark fruit enhances the tomato-based sauce.
- Roasted Root Vegetables – Beets, carrots, and parsnips complement Lagrein’s fruity and earthy character.
- Lentil & Mushroom Stew – A great option for plant-based pairings, bringing out Lagrein’s savory depth.
About:
We let the wine grow. In the modern world, where speed is of the essence, time has become one of life’s great luxuries. In Terlano it is a luxury we insist on. We take our time and give the wine time; every wine is given all the time it needs to mature to perfection – for years or even decades. The Cantina Terlano winery has a traditional focus on long-living wines. The longevity of our wines is due to a combination of the high mineral content of the soils, old vines growing in complete harmony, carefully managed vineyards with low yields per vine, and the rigorous selection of heathy and fully mature grapes. Wine-making in Terlano traditionally involves the use of wooden barrels. Special emphasis is also placed on the “sur lie” method, with the wines often left to age on the yeast for years before being bottled and left to slowly mature to perfection. The slow maturation process gives the wines their specific character and complexity. The focus is on developing the complex secondary and tertiary aromas rather than the primary aromas. Proof of the benefits of this approach is to be found in the winery’s wine archive, which contains over 100,000 bottles in a collection of rarities comprising various vintages from 1955 to the present. Some of the wines actually date from 1893, the year the winery was founded.
West Seattle Wine Cellars 