RADIKON | Kultiger Orangenwein

Radikon is one of the most important names in orange wine. The family farms in Oslavia, in the Collio hills of Friuli, right on the border with Slovenia, on land they have farmed since the 19th century and owned since 1923.

Stanko Radikon made the first bottling in 1980. In 1995, inspired by the old ways of the area and by his neighbour Josko Gravner, he began leaving his Ribolla Gialla on its skins, and the wines that followed changed how the world thinks about white wine.

Stanko died in 2016. His son Saša, who had worked beside him for years, now runs the estate with his mother Suzana, and his sister Ivana launched the POP wines in 2023.

The classic wines are named after their grapes or places. Ribolla Gialla is 100% Ribolla Gialla, Jakot is Friulano, once called Tocai, which is why the name is "Tokaj" spelled backwards, and Oslavje blends Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. There is also a Merlot and Pignoli, made from the rare local Pignolo.

The S line, started with Saša in 2009, has shorter macerations: Slatnik (Chardonnay and Friulano), Sivi (Pinot Grigio) and the red RS. The newest are the POP wines, with just a few days on skins.

The classic wines come in narrow-necked 500ml and one-litre bottles, chosen to limit contact with air. Many are one per order, so check the list below for what we have right now.

The vines grow on ponca, the layered marl and sandstone of the Collio, and are farmed without chemicals. In the cellar, the grapes are destemmed and ferment with their own yeasts in large open oak vats, with no temperature control and the cap punched down by hand.

For the classic wines, the whites stay on their skins for two to three months, then age for around three years in large oak casks and one to two more in bottle before release. The S line gets one to two weeks on the skins and a year in barrel, and POP only two to four days in steel.

Since the 2002 vintage the classic wines have been made without added sulphur, with the exception of 2014. The S line gets a small dose at bottling.

Where is Radikon based?

In Oslavia, in the Collio hills of Friuli, Italy, right on the Slovenian border.

Who runs Radikon today?

Saša Radikon, son of the late Stanko Radikon, with his mother Suzana. His sister Ivana created the POP line.

Why is Radikon Jakot called Jakot?

Jakot is made from Friulano, which used to be called Tocai. When that name was banned, Radikon spelled Tokaj backwards.

Why are Radikon bottles 500ml and 1 litre?

The narrow-necked 500ml and one-litre bottles, with a special cork, limit contact with air, which matters for wines made without sulphur.

Does Radikon add sulphur?

The classic wines have been made without added sulphur since 2002, apart from the 2014 vintage. The S line gets a small dose at bottling.

What is the difference between Radikon's wine lines?

The classic wines have two to three months on skins and long ageing. The S line has one to two weeks, and POP only a few days.