2024 Dorcha Modra Frankinja "Carbonic", Stajerska, Slovenia

ABOUT THE WINE

Modra Frankinja (Blaufränkisch) thrives in the rolling hills of Štajerska, where cooler alpine influences and marl-limestone soils yield wines of freshness and aromatic lift. For the Carbonic cuvée, Dorcha employs full carbonic maceration—a technique where whole clusters ferment in a sealed tank, creating vivid, fruit-forward aromatics and soft, supple textures.

The 2024 vintage brought balanced ripening, allowing bright fruit flavors to develop while maintaining natural acidity. Grapes are hand-harvested, fermented with indigenous yeasts, and aged briefly in neutral vessels to preserve purity. The result is a light- to medium-bodied red, bursting with freshness and layered with both fruit and spice.

This style of Blaufränkisch is deliberately joyful—more about energy and drinkability than structure or power. Best served with a slight chill, it offers immediacy while still expressing the grape’s characteristic verve and mineral backbone.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER

Dorcha is a small, forward-thinking estate in Štajerska, Slovenia, dedicated to producing honest, terroir-driven wines with a contemporary edge. The name “Dorcha” reflects both tradition and creativity, with the winery seeking to balance regional authenticity with innovative techniques such as carbonic maceration and minimal-intervention winemaking.

Vineyards are farmed sustainably, with respect for biodiversity and soil health. In the cellar, the approach is low-intervention: spontaneous fermentations, gentle handling, and minimal additions, allowing each cuvée to express its grape and site with clarity.

With the Carbonic Modra Frankinja, Dorcha highlights Blaufränkisch in a lighter, more playful form—proof that this noble Central European grape can be as fun and refreshing as it is serious and age-worthy. It’s a wine that embodies the new wave of Slovenian winemaking: fresh, expressive, and deeply rooted in place.