The picturesque hills near Marezige and Truške are located just five kilometers from the Adriatic, more specifically the Gulf of Trieste. Rodica’s terraced vineyards are planted at 250-350 meters of elevation and face south. They enjoy significant day-night temperature swings and good ventilation from the exchange of mountain- and sea-borne breezes. The soil is rich with minerals, consisting predominantly of limestone. 

In 1998, Marinko Rodica, a car mechanic, decided to change careers and become a winemaker. By 2008, the Rodica Family Winery had 60,000 vines and obtained organic certification for its farming. A brand-new, energy efficient cellar was completed in 2012. Today, Rodica estate farms 15 hectares of vineyards, most of them planted to Malvasia and Refošk.

After de-stemming, the organically farmed grapes are macerated with the pulp and skins for just a few hours and a spontaneous, wild-yeast fermentation begins. The finished wine is later transferred into three- to seven-year-old used barriques, where it matures for 3 years. Bottled unfiltered. 

Deep ruby-black in color (a Refošk marker), with aromas of black pepper, coffee grounds, black raspberry and cherry, plum, cacao nibs, violets, roasted meat, and turned earth. Medium- to medium plus in body, with good freshness and relatively soft, grainy tannins. Plush and satisfying on the palate, with a grill-char note that makes you crave something from the grill.