Draga's Malvasia Miklus comes from the Collio hills in Friuli, where the Miklus family gives this aromatic grape a textured, skin-contact expression. Part of the estate's Natural Art range, it combines floral perfume with ripe fruit and spice. This is a white with enough presence to follow you through dinner.
- Aromas: Apricot, honeysuckle and orange blossom are joined by lavender, herbs and pepper, with wood spice adding another layer as it opens.
- Palate: Broad and textured, with ripe-fruit depth and a savoury, gently grippy finish. Freshness and herbal detail keep the aromatic richness from feeling simple.
- Style: A dry amber-style Malvasia with full flavour, floral lift and skin-derived texture, best served cool rather than sharply chilled.
- Winemaking: Spontaneous fermentation and maturation in wood shape the Miklus Natural Art style. The wine is unfiltered and minimally handled; contact with the skins supplies colour, structure and an additional savoury dimension.
- Cellaring: Enjoy now if well stored. These textured wines can develop, but additional cellaring depends on the vintage and bottle condition; keep cool and dark and assess before holding longer.
- Food Pairing: Roast chicken, gently spiced pork, mushrooms or mature cheese; aromatic herbs and lightly roasted flavours make especially useful companions.
This is Malvasia with something extra to say. The flowers draw you in, then the texture and savoury finish give it a real place at dinner. Let the glass warm a little and enjoy how the apricot, herbs and spice begin to separate into layers. Serve cool, not ice cold, in a generous glass; a little air can help the layers open.
Draga
In the Collio hills near Gorizia, where Italy meets Slovenia, Draga is the work of the Miklus family and their continuing relationship with this borderland. Today Mitja leads the estate alongside his parents Anna and Milan, drawing on generations of practical experience. The vineyards grow in the region’s characteristic marl and sandstone soils, known locally as ponca. White grapes are a particular strength, including Ribolla Gialla, Friulano, Malvasia, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio, each offering a different view of Friuli’s wine culture.
The collection provides two especially rewarding ways into the estate. Draga’s whites emphasise varietal character and regional expression, while the Miklus range explores more individual wines, including extended skin contact, spontaneous fermentation and patient maturation in wood. Here Pinot Grigio can reveal an unexpectedly rich colour and texture, and Ribolla Gialla takes on a more savoury personality. Draga’s appeal is the breadth of this small family world: familiar grapes with a distinctive accent, alongside intriguing amber wines that invite a little more time and attention.
