|
Ljutomerčan Kmetijstvo in predelava Ljutomer, p.o. Kidričeva ulica 2 9240 Ljutomer phone: +386 69 81-651 fax: +386 69 81-588 |
This is how my Internet friend the British oenologist Clifford C. Mould described Ljutomerčan's award-winning Laški Rizling:
"I don't mind saying that my heart sank just a little when I spied the words Ljutomer Laški Rizling. This brand still claims to be the best selling white wine in the UK, beating even Liebfraumilch, but not when it comes to confected sweetness. Well, let me tell you a thing or two about this wine: categorized as both vrhunsko meaning high quality, and izbor (selection of late picked grapes), this top-of-the-range version won the Prix d'Excellence at this year's Paris Vinalies Internationales Fair.
"The colour was not deep, but the nose was inviting, smelling of tropical melons with faint hints of Botrytis. The consistency of this delicious wine was meltingly soft, coating the sides of the glass but not clinging to the mouth in a sugary way. The flavours were an amazing amalgam of tropical fruits balanced by the most perfect fresh acid that gave the cleanest possible finish. This is not a heavy wine like a rich Sauterne, neither does it have the sheer concentration of one of Willi Opitz's Schilfmandls (whose Austrian vineyard is less than three hours' drive away), but it is a deeply satisfying wine that begs to be drunk without food amongst friends who care about wine. After the experience, those friends are bound together just that little bit closer."
Clifford C. Mould would probably not lavish such praise on all the wines produced at the Ljutomerčan winery, but he would detect a similar richness of flavour and bouquet in most.
The Ljutomerčan winery cultivates 317 hectares (783 acres) of its own vineyards, growing only white grapes. Laški Rizling makes up the largest part of their average annual yield of 1500 tons of grapes. Šipon, Chardonnay, Renski Rizling, Sauvignon, and Traminec are grown almost exclusively for the production of high-quality varietal wines. Rizvanec, Žlahtnina, and Kerner are reserved mostly for their quality blend Ljutomerčan. The winery purchases around 860 tons of grapes from neighbouring growers.
From 15,000 to 20,000 hectoliters (528,400 gallons) of wine are made every year, 60% in the quality range and the rest high-quality.
The winery excels in the production of high-quality varietal wines grown on specific sites. Their famous Laški Rizling - both regular and izbor - comes from Slamnjak, Šipon from Železne Dveri, Chardonnay from Ričetova Graba, and Sauvignon from Nunska Graba. These sites are well known to all connoisseurs of Podravje wines. Some grapes are always left on the vine to produce their well known late harvest, suhi jagodni izbor, and Ice wines.
Ljutomerčan's best vintages are 1983, 1986, 1989, 1991, and 1993.
