In the Danubian Lowlands of southwest Slovakia is the village of Zemianske Sady, and Slobodné Vinárstvo, run by fourth- and fifth-generation winemakers Agnes Lovecka and Katarina Kuropkova, and their partners Mišo and Andrea. They farm 17ha and made the change to organics in 2016, and are multiple year members of the oldest biodynamic association in Austria, Valtfiertel. Indigenous grapes are preferred, soil health is of the utmost importance.

Winemaking has been in the family since 1912, before adopting the name Slobodné Vinárstvo, “free winemaking.” The family estate, Majer Zemianske Sady, was primarily a tobacco farm, producing wine on the side which was mostly sold locally. The combination of World War 2 and communism decimated the once prosperous estate- they didn’t produce wine again until 1997. The estate made its way to Agnes and Katarina through twists, turns, and heartbreak.

Agnes and Katarina’s grandparents, Eduard and Peter Herzog, grew up on the estate during WW2, and in 1944 joined the Slovak National Uprising against the Nazis. Eduard and Peter were to inherit the estate- Eduard, passionate about music, not farming, had no interest in doing so, leaving the future responsibility to Peter. Peter did not survive the uprising. Eduard did, and left for Prague, where he passed along to Agnes and Katarina’s mother a box containing a variety of papers, including the ownership certificate of the estate. It sat hidden in a wall under the staircase for many years. They were uninterested at first, but in the end they were drawn away from their city life in Bratislava, about an hour from the estate, and towards their family history.

All efforts were focused on rebuilding the ecosystem of the farm, honing in on organic and biodynamic efforts. Slobodné considers wine to be a living organism- their winemaking efforts, then, focused on understanding each and every detail of the process, avoiding anything that could alter the wine.

Winemaking: direct press, spontaneous fermentation in clay with indigenous yeasts

-Zev Rovine Selections

The Rose and the Vampire

Wine from a specific plot of our vineyard in Zemianske Sady, where Frankovka, Cabernet Sauvignon and Alibernet grow

pink, dry

Alk: 12.5% Order no.

Some wines are impossible to replicate and we don’t quite know how we came up with them. Ruža a Upír is an elegant rosé wine with a deep message – a “soulful rosé”.

The famous climbing route in Buoux bears the same name. It was named by Antoine Le Menestrel – a French free climbing legend, when after conquering it he said: “You pay for the road with blood. The rose belongs to the victors.” There is a touch on the road that, until you learn it, you will not move forward. We have already experienced such moments in life.

The wine fermented in Spanish Tinajas amphorae and matured in Ovoids, it was not clarified or filtered.

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LA ROSE ET LE VAMPIRE is one of our SLOVAK CRU wines.

A rosé from a special plot in our vineyard where all Frankovka, Cabernet and Alibernet grow together.

La Rose is elegant, soulful rose/red wine. After a direct press it fermented in Spanish clay amphoras called Tinajas, later aged in ovoids-egg shaped vessels with semi-permeable polymer walls.

La Rose et le Vampire is a name of a famous climbing route in Buoux, southern France. Named by Antoine Le Menestrel, French legend of free climbing. There is one special move called “Rose move” on the route. Without mastering it, you cannot proceed further.

“THE ROUTE IS THE VAMPIRE,

AND THE ROSE IS FOR THE WINNER”

ANTOINE THE MINESTREL

-From the producer