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.

VRONSKI is a wine in the category that we call SLOVAK WINERY POSTMODERN. Vronski is a Slavic cavalier with French upbringing and manners. Sauvignon is one of the most classic French varieties – nobles. In addition, it is a variety that has a deep history in our vineyard in Zemianske Sady, as described in the Viticultural Handbook from 1952. Similar to Oranžista, which we wrote about last time, it belongs to the middle level of our portfolio, which consists of wines made in the semi-carbonic method. These represent fresh varietal wines for everyday drinking or pairing with food. Part of the whole bunches fermented with unfiltered must for 7 days and then the wine matured in Ovoids. Ovoids are egg-shaped vessels that breathe. The semi-permeable polymer walls of the tank have a specific gradient that allows oxygen molecules to pass through the container, ensuring micro-oxidation during wine maturation similar to that of a wooden barrel. However, the resulting aroma and taste are not influenced by the character of the wood, thanks to which the wine retains its fruity character. Typical Sauvignon aromatics and juicy taste. Vronski is a dry white wine that you will want to open every day. Our wines are made exclusively from hand-picked grapes grown in the organically certified Slobodné vineyards in the village of Zemianske Sady. Slobodné vinárstvo is a member of: Autentista Slovakia (www.autentista.sk) Demeter Czech & Slovak (www.demetercs.eu) – From the producer