RADIKON
The Radikon Family: Rebels of the Vine.
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In the hills of Oslavia, nestled on the border of Italy and Slovenia, lies a small family winery that once turned the wine world upside down. Long before “natural wine” became a buzzword, they were already making it—quietly, obsessively, and unapologetically.
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It started in the 1980s when Stanko Radikon, a bold thinker with dirt under his nails and fire in his heart, took over the family estate. At the time, Friuli was deep into modern winemaking—stainless steel tanks, fast fermentations, clean and predictable wines. But Stanko wasn’t convinced. The wines felt soulless, stripped of identity.
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So he went back to the traditional winemaking style of the region – the ancient techniques of long skin contact, and minimal intervention. In 1995, he made a radical decision: stop using sulfur (as long macerations allowed wine to be sulfur-free and naturally increase the aging potential). At the time, that was unheard of even in natural wine circles. But for Stanko, it wasn’t about trends. It was about the limitless potential of wine and craftmenship. He believed wine should be alive—wild, unpredictable, and true to its place.
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And what he created was unlike anything else. Deep amber whites. Textured, complex, oxidative, but vibrant. The wines weren’t easy—they demanded your attention, challenged your palate, and told stories in every glass.
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But things weren’t always this great. Wine audience didn’t understand the heavy macerated whites, and, in fact, a lot of wine critics advised Stanko to go back to classic whites. But Stanko persisted, until one day (some time in the late 1990s) wine lovers finally come to appreciate the idea and energy of these long skin-contact whites. Ever since. ‘Radikon fever’ has begun. When Stanko passed in 2016, his son Saša Radikon stepped up—not to replicate, but to evolve. Saša honors his father’s vision but continues to experiment, refining techniques, introducing new cuvées, and always staying rooted in the family’s fierce independence. The winery today is still tiny, still stubborn, still surrounded by wild vines and big ideas.
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When Stanko passed in 2016, his son Saša Radikon stepped up – not to replicate, but to evolve. Saša honors his father’s vision but continues to experiment, refining techniques, introducing new cuvées, and always staying rooted in the family’s fierce independence. The winery today is still tiny, still stubborn, still surrounded by wild vines and big ideas.
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Radikon is more than a wine label. It’s a statement: that wine can be free, that tradition can be radical, and that authenticity always wins in the end. If you want to taste passion and grit – pour yourself a glass of Radikon wine and see it for yourself.
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P.S. We had a chance of visiting Radikon in November month of 2023. This is how we kicked off our partnership and friendship with the Radikon family – the kindest souls with the warmest hospitality. It took us two years to finally get their wines to Vietnam, but it’s definitely one of the biggest of our prides as wine importers. We truly believe understanding Radikon wines takes time and great understanding of the craft – but once you are in, you are there to stay. You are always welcome!
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RADIKON
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