Vodopivec, Solo MM20 2020

Vodopivec Solo MM20 2020 is Paolo Vodopivec’s flagship expression of Vitovska, a profound orange wine that captures the raw beauty of Friuli’s limestone-rich hills. Sourced from a single, painstakingly planted vineyard identified by Paolo for its exceptional potential, Solo is a wine meant for contemplation as much as for pleasure. Its combination of depth, texture, and lifted citrus character sets it apart as one of the most articulate voices for skin‑macerated Vitovska in Italy.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, Solo MM20 2020 shows a glowing, deep golden to amber hue, a visual cue to its extended skin contact and concentration. The nose is immediately expressive, with beautiful caramelized lemon and candied citrus peel leaping from the glass, layered with notes of dried herbs, chamomile, honeycomb, and a subtle saline, stony edge that recalls sea air and limestone. On the palate, the wine is textured yet refined, offering a precise interplay between fine, elegant tannins and vibrant acidity. Flavors of preserved lemon, bergamot, and dried apricot mingle with hints of almond, tea leaves, and gentle spice, giving the wine both breadth and serious length. There is real depth here—each sip unfolds with new layers, making it a wine to revisit over the course of an evening. While already compelling now, Solo MM20 2020 has the structure and natural freshness to evolve gracefully for 8–10 years or more, gaining complexity and further integration of its tannin and aromatic profile.

Production
Solo comes from a single, carefully chosen parcel in the stony, windswept hills of Friuli, where limestone and rocky soils give Vitovska its characteristic tension, salinity, and mineral drive. Paolo Vodopivec personally planted and nurtured this vineyard, farming it with great attention to detail and with a deep respect for the land, typically using low-intervention, sustainable methods to allow the terroir to speak clearly. Grapes are hand-harvested at optimal ripeness and rigorously selected in the vineyard, then fermented on their skins to craft this distinctive orange wine. The vinification is traditionally minimalist—indigenous yeasts, extended maceration, and aging in neutral vessels—aimed at preserving authenticity rather than embellishing, resulting in a pure, textural, and site-driven expression of Vitovska.

Food & Serving
The structure and savory complexity of Solo MM20 2020 make it an outstanding partner at the table. It pairs beautifully with richer seafood dishes (such as roasted monkfish, grilled octopus, or shellfish stews), earthy vegetable preparations, aged cheeses, and poultry or pork with herbal, Mediterranean accents. It also shines alongside dishes that feature citrus, saffron, or umami-rich components like mushrooms. Serve at 12–14°C (54–57°F) to highlight its aromatic range and texture. Decanting for 30–60 minutes is highly recommended to allow the wine to open fully and reveal its layered nose and refined tannins.

Producer
Paolo Vodopivec is widely regarded as one of the leading interpreters of Vitovska and a pioneer of serious, terroir-driven orange wines from Friuli and the Carso area. Working from a small domaine that he has largely planted and developed himself, he focuses almost exclusively on this native grape, exploring its depths through meticulous farming and thoughtful, low-intervention cellar work. Over the years, Vodopivec has gained a devoted following among sommeliers and wine collectors for the purity, intensity, and longevity of his wines. Solo represents the summit of his work to date—a concentrated, singular expression that underscores his importance in the region’s modern wine renaissance and his role in elevating Vitovska to the world stage.