Radikon: History, Family, and Fearless Winemaking in Friuli
- Posted on
- By Tim Graham
- Posted in Friuli, italy, Orange Wine, Radikon, Skin-Contact, White Wine
On the steep hillsides of Oslavia, a small border village between Italy and Slovenia, stands one of the most influential wineries of the natural wine world: Radikon. Known for their deeply amber, skin-contact whites and unflinching commitment to purity, Radikon has helped redefine what Friuli wines can be.
Today, Saša Radikon continues the legacy of his late father Stanko, guiding the estate into a new generation without compromising the vision that changed wine forever.
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A Family Story That Changed Friuli
In the 1970s, Stanko Radikon began making wine from his family’s vineyards in Oslavia. By the early 1990s, he felt something was missing from modern white winemaking, a loss of depth and authenticity. In 1995, he made a radical choice: to return to the way his grandfather once did, letting white grapes ferment on their skins for weeks or months, just like reds.
The results were electric: golden, textured, alive. These were not “modern” whites but wines of place, texture, and time. Stanko bottled them unfiltered, with no sulfur, aged in large Slavonian oak for years, and poured them for friends in bottles that quickly became legendary: slim-necked 500 mL and 1 L formats, designed to age gracefully and to be shared around a table.
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Saša Radikon: Carrying the Flame
When Stanko passed in 2016, his son Saša stepped in. Already deeply involved in the cellar and vineyard, Saša honors his father’s methods while bringing his own sense of balance. He farms organically, ferments with native yeasts, and avoids manipulation, but he’s also built a second line of wines (the approachable, 750 mL “S line”) that shows Radikon’s personality in a fresher, earlier-drinking style.
Where the blue-label classics (Ribolla Gialla, Oslavje, Jakot) are contemplative and age-worthy, the S line (Sivi, Slatnik, RS Rosso) is open, bright, and ready to pour tonight.
Both express Saša’s guiding belief:
“Wine is not made, it’s grown. If you listen to the vines and give them time, they’ll tell their own story.”
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The Land Beneath the Vines
Radikon’s vineyards sit on ponca, a mix of marl and sandstone shot through with ancient marine fossils. This friable, mineral-rich soil shapes wines with tension and long, salty finishes. Cool mountain breezes and sunny Adriatic days create perfect ripening conditions for the region’s native Ribolla Gialla and Friulano, as well as international varieties like Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Merlot.
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Tasting Through the Radikon Lineup
The “S Line” — Accessible, Vibrant, Authentic
Radikon 2023 Sivi (Pinot Grigio)
A luminous copper hue, with scents of hibiscus, tangerine peel, and wild herbs. Ten days of skin contact give it gentle tannin and savory grip. Perfect with roasted chicken, saffron risotto, or grilled trout.
Radikon 2023 Slatnik (Chardonnay & Friulano)
Round yet lifted, showing orchard fruit, lemon balm, and almond. Two weeks on skins and a year in oak deliver texture without heaviness. Try it with roast turkey, cauliflower steak, or mushroom pasta.
Radikon 2023 RS Rosso (Merlot & Pignolo)
A juicy, herbal-spiced red brimming with black cherry, plum, and savory notes. Medium-bodied, vibrant acidity, soft grip; a flexible food companion from pizza night to pork tenderloin.
Slightly riper and rounder than the 2023, with peach skin, rooibos tea, and gentle tannins. Pair with grilled salmon or autumn squash dishes.
Fresh apricot and quince meet chalk and citrus zest. Elegant and mineral. Great with roast chicken or aged Asiago.
More plush and fruit-forward than the 2023 vintage, with supple tannins and espresso-tinged spice. Excellent with braised short ribs or tomato-based pasta.
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The “Blue Label” Classics — Icons of Natural Wine
Three months on skins, three years in oak, THE benchmark of orange wine. Dried apricot, orange zest, chamomile, and fine tannin carry through a long, savory finish. Meditative and age-worthy.
Radikon 2019 Oslavje (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio)
A co-fermented field blend of power and perfume: honeycomb, dried citrus, and tea leaf with a saline lift. Serve with roasted turkey, root vegetables, or firm cheese.
Named as “Tokaj” spelled backward, a cheeky nod to Friuli’s heritage. Long skin contact and years in oak yield almond, pear skin, and fennel notes with a lingering, spicy finish. Try with herb-roasted pork or mushroom risotto.
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How to Serve and Enjoy Radikon Wines
- Decant generously, yes, even the whites. These wines love air.
- Serve cool, not cold (around 55 °F / 13 °C).
- Use wide-bowled glasses to release their aromatics.
- Don’t rush. Each sip evolves over time in the glass.
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Why Radikon Still Matters
Radikon didn’t just change how white wine is made, they changed how we think about wine. Every bottle embodies patience, respect for nature, and a refusal to compromise. In Saša’s hands, the torch burns bright: wines of power, honesty, and quiet beauty.
So whether you’re pouring a vibrant Slatnik for friends or cellaring a Ribolla Gialla for a future occasion, you’re tasting more than wine, you’re tasting a philosophy.
Explore the full range of Radikon wines in store or online at The Wine Wave. Let us help you choose your next bottle of Friuli’s most influential estate.