Primosic: Oslavia’s Ribolla and the Collio’s First Bottle

Oslavia is a handful of houses and vineyards on the hills just above Gorizia, a stone's throw from the Slovenian border, on the marl and sandstone soil known locally as ponca. It is considered the cradle of Ribolla Gialla, and the Primosic family has been here a long time: the Theresian land register of 1751 already lists land in their name.

In the late nineteenth century Karlo Primosic sold his wine to merchants who shipped it to Vienna. After the First World War, which left Oslavia in ruins, the farmers replanted Ribolla, and it was Ribolla that gave the area its identity. The company in its current form was founded in 1956 and bottled its first vintage in 1964, under Silvan Primosic. In 1967 Silvan was among the first members of the Consorzio Collio, and one of his Tocai, the "Numero Uno", became the first bottle of the new DOC.

Today the winery is run by his sons Marko and Boris, with the fifth generation already working in the vineyards. The vines cover around 32 hectares and the range combines two sides: Collio whites made in steel, from Friulano to Malvasia, and a skin-contact line that includes the Ribolla Gialla Riserva and the Friulano and Pinot Grigio "Skin".

Visits and tastings must be booked in advance and take place in a tasting room for small groups. Italian, English, German and Slovenian are spoken.

This is an independent editorial feature.
Photo ©primosic.com