Meneghetti Merlot 2020

• Grape variety: Merlot
• Alcohol content: 14.0%
• Aging: 10 months in used barrique barrels
• Serving temperature: 16 - 18°C
• Bottles volume: 0.75 l

After the Napoleon's wars, when the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy first quietly and then quickly and strongly took over Istria, a smart man called Meneghetti decided to buy many acres of land and start producing food for one simple reason – there were 6 thousand soldiers within 500 m from his estate and he was able to sell them everything that he produced. He started building houses, barns, planting vineyards and olive groves, raising goats and sheep, and hosting Austro-Hungarian officers during their leisure time. It was already then that Stancija Meneghetti began to have a reputation of one of the most beautiful estates on the Adriatic coast, and a few decades later that reputation grew even more. Abandoned by all the former armies, owners, and accidental passers-by, overgrown in Mediterranean underbrush and weeds, it was re-discovered in the early 2000s by Miroslav Plišo and his wife, Romana Kajfež, who were in search of a perfect estate for their enjoyment. Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery is now a true beauty made of century-old stone, evoking respect towards the tradition of its region. Meneghetti is a symbol of luxury, an oasis of peace and quiet surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, with its winery, an outstanding restaurant providing highly personalized service, and premium, world-renowned and award-winning wines and olive oils. 'The Red Land' (terra rossa) around the Meneghetti Wine Hotel is hard and poor soil, richer in stone than soil, intense, mineral, and rich in iron, favorable for cultivating red wine grapes. It is protected by a small hill from the south that prevents excessive humidity, and it gives the vine a long and healthy lifespan with strong aromas. “The Red Land” of the Meneghetti vineyards is cultivated in an ecologically sustainable manner with deep respect towards nature. The vine is pruned by hand according to the Simonit & Sirch method which is soft with the purpose of nurturing the plant in order to achieve older age. Along with the autochthonous sorts, we are cultivating international varieties that get special characteristics, affected by the local terroir, the unique soil, and the environment full of Mediterranean vegetation. The wines are produced using contemporary technologies that reflect the uniqueness of Istria, at the same time crossing the boundaries with its character and quality. Meneghetti single-variety oils are recommended by Flos Olei, one of the most prestigious international guides for olive oil, that has named the Meneghetti “Izbor” the best olive oil in the world in the category of “intensely fruity aroma“.