Marko Fon Malvazija “4 Stati” 2021

MARKO FON — Malvazija “4 Stati” 2021 (Vigna Quattro Stati)

Context

There are old vines — and then there are vines with a biography. Vigna Quattro Stati (literally “Vineyard of the Four States”) was planted in 1909 in Gorjansko (Komen), in the heart of the Kras/Carso, on red bioclastic limestone soils. The name came later, as an inevitable epithet: the border line shifted so many times that this parcel “changed nationality” four times — the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Italy, Yugoslavia, and today Slovenia — without ever losing what defines it: deep roots and human continuity.

Marko Fon took over the vineyard in 2009 and farms it in partnership with his friend and fellow winegrower Marco Tavčar (Pietra). The guiding thread is simple and rare: the parcel was never abandoned. There was always someone caring for it — even when the Carso became the stage for some of the harshest chapters of the First World War.

The Vineyard

Vigna Quattro Stati is a walled vineyard of old, ungrafted vines, with a minimal yet revealing diversity: the vast majority are Malvazija, but there are also a few “intruder” vines (planted over time to replace missing plants), bearing witness to the vineyard’s long life. Malvazija Istarska predominates, with occasional presence of other Malvasias, including Malvasia di Candia — a surprising detail for this latitude and border region.

Soil: bioclastic limestone (Kras/Carso), stony and well-draining, with a strong mineral identity.
Farming: organic (hands-on work and constant presence in the vineyard).

Vinification

The winemaking respects the age and voice of the place:

• grapes harvested by hand

• manual destemming

• fermentation with indigenous yeasts

• short maceration (usually a few days) before separating the skins

• after fermentation, the wine is handled with precision and patience, privileging texture, energy, and depth

Tasting Notes

Color: deep golden.
Aromas: ripe apricot, candied orange, ginger, white flowers, and herbs of the Carso.
Palate: a luminous, enveloping core, combining warmth and tension — broad texture, persistent finish, with a mineral/earthy grip that lingers and calls for food.

Pairings

A white wine for serious gastronomy and layered dishes:

• oven-roasted fish, butter and herb sauces, refined fish stews

• roast poultry, oven-roasted pork, mushroom-based dishes

• Asian cuisine with ginger and citrus (without excessive sweetness)

• aged hard cheeses and medium-aged cures

Service

Temperature: 10–12 °C (allow to warm slightly in the glass to reveal texture)
Glass: large white wine glass (Burgundy style)
Decanting: optional; 15–30 minutes helps open aromas and the herbal component

Technical Sheet

Producer: Vinogradi Fon (Marko Fon)
Wine: Malvazija “4 Stati” (Vigna Quattro Stati)
Vintage: 2021
Region: Kras / Carso, Gorjansko (Komen) — Slovenia
Vineyard: Vigna Quattro Stati, planted in 1909; walled vineyard; old ungrafted vines
Grapes: Malvazija (predominantly Malvazija Istarska; occasional presence of other Malvasias)
Farming: organic
Vinification: manual destemming; indigenous yeasts; short maceration; fermentation and aging focused on purity and texture
Production: 300 bottles