Benvenuti's homage to a previous generation - Anno Domini 2010

Some varieties take to skin maceration like a duck to water. Malvasia Istriana is one of those, and there are a handful of producers in Croatia's "Northern Tuscany" who are exploiting this quite delightfully -Giorgio Clai, Kabola and Benvenuti are the one

 Every week, I select an orange wine (a white wine made with extended skin contact) that grabbed my attention. View the whole series here.

Some varieties take to skin maceration like a duck to water. Malvasia Istriana (AKA Malvazija Istarska) is one of those, and there are a handful of producers in Croatia's "Northern Tuscany" who are exploiting this very adeptly - Giorgio Clai, Kabola and Benvenuti are the ones I've discovered so far.

I've had a soft spot for the wines from Benvenuti for a couple of years now. Brothers Nikola and Alfred make a standout Teran (Istria's most important red variety) as well as a couple of Malvasias. Their "standard" Malvasia is good, but "Anno Domini" is the one that pushes my buttons.