Marko Fon: The Heart of Carso
Marko Fon, a “brilliant young man, a passionate craftsman” — as The New York Times once called him — left everything behind to dedicate himself, body and soul, to the vineyards inherited from his father in a hidden, magical corner between Slovenia and Italy.
“These hands transmit a tradition of many generations… who moved stones to plant a vine.”
This is how Marko welcomed us to his refuge in the Slovenian Carso, where he cultivates soulful wines. His calm voice echoes like an extension of the limestone earth and salty Adriatic winds. Spending a day with him is more than visiting a natural winegrower — it is a spiritual experience (not far from our visit to Gravner). Each of his gestures is a tribute to the land and its silence. No slogans, no pretension — just truth.
The wine poet
The wine poet
Marko Fon is a poet, not only in words but in his gestures. Everything he says carries weight, soul, and a rhythm that seems to come from deep within the limestone land of his childhood.
“Cold wind to arrive,” he says with a smile in his eyes — referring both to the fierce local wind and the challenges of growing wine here.
In his voice, there is no marketing, no self-celebration — only commitment, humility, and heart. This is one of the three pillars written on his labels: "Heart, healthy heart. Yes, yes." Even at a loss, even when it hurts, this is the right way.
The best ham of our lives
Before we tasted the wines, Marko served us something unforgettable: the best ham of our lives. Hand-cut, slowly, with reverence — no label, no PDO, no stage — just local produce, cured as in the old days. The meal became a liturgy.
The discovery of a master
Guilherme Corrêa first discovered Marko’s wines in 2013, when they were still an underground legend. At that time, Gui was one of the pioneers bringing orange and natural wines to Brazil — long before they became trendy. Marko was already a reference for those who knew where to look. The wines had no technical sheets or slogans — they had soul. And soul cannot be explained.
A hard land with sweet fruits
Marko was born in Karso — or Kras, as the locals say — and grew up among vines, goats, potatoes, and carrots. A truly rural childhood, in intimate contact with nature’s cycles.
“I lived in wine, in the countryside, and with cows.”
For Marko, it’s not only about cultivating the vine — it’s about understanding the whole landscape, respecting the weather, and embracing the land’s hardness. The Karst is rugged: exposed rock, red clay, and salty Adriatic winds. The Slovenian side, where Marko lives, remains more protected — and more traditional. Farming here is still done by hand and intuition.
Malvazija, Vitovska and Teran — and nothing else
Marko cultivates only three native varieties: Malvazija, Vitovska, and Teran. The vineyards are small, scattered, and some over 110 years old. Fruit trees grow among the vines, fig and plum trees where the vines climb and intertwine. In winter, family donkeys graze between the rows, cleaning and fertilizing the soil.
Everything is done by Marko and his family. There are no employees. “The plants trust us,” he says.
Harvesting is done manually, in multiple passes. Vinification is minimal: indigenous yeasts, with or without maceration, depending on the year. Aging takes place in amphorae, foudres, and old barrels. Production is tiny — 3,000 to 5,000 bottles per wine. Some cuvées, such as 4 Stati, no more than 400 bottles per year.
The wine that writes "Carso"
For Marko, writing “Carso” on the label is an act of profound responsibility.
“It’s not an app. It’s not a YouTube video. It’s a responsibility.”
He doesn’t seek fame — he serves Carso. His wines are not products; they are pure expressions of place, of a way of life, of ethics.
An unforgettable visit
We returned home with our souls full and our hearts light. Marko’s wines are not just rare—they are essential. Drinking them is like coming into contact with a world that is more sincere, slower, more poetic.
And as if all this wasn't enough, Marko also surprised us with a moment that will remain etched in our memories: opened a very rare 4 Stati 2019 damigiana, kept as a personal treasure. The wine was in a state of grace — a spectacle of nature, alive, deep, with that telluric vibration that only he knows how to bottle.
Marko Fon is now one of the most revered names in the world of natural and biodynamic wines from Central Europe. His artisanal work inspires a new generation of growers and is sought after by wine lovers who value authenticity, origin, and integrity. Drinking one of his wines is entering a world where nature sets the rules — and every bottle tells a story of resilience, silence, and beauty.
At Temple Wines, we are proud to share this rare Slovenian treasure with those who know how to listen.
As Marko himself told us, with the wisdom of one who grows more than just grapes:
“Writing 'Carso' on the label... is no joke.”
Available wines from Slovenia: templewines.eu
Quattro Stati: one vineyard, four countries, one soul
High in the Slovenian Karst, between the Adriatic and the scars of two world wars, there survives a vineyard planted in 1909 that has belonged to four different countries — and has never been abandoned. Today, tended by Marko Fon and Marco Tavčar, Four States Vineyard is more than a vineyard: it is a time capsule, an ode to resistance, living agriculture, and the natural identity of the land.
The British critic site Jancis Robinson published a beautiful article about this place and their work with Malvazija Istarska, one of Slovenia’s great wine treasures. A must-read for anyone interested in natural wines, organic viticulture, and stories that transcend the glass.
To read the full article: jancisrobinson.com
To read the full article, visit jancisrobinson.com
