Wine is made in the vineyard
OUR APPROACH
Nature teaches us, experience guides us
Wine is born in the vineyard — we just preserve it in the cellar. This is a belief that we have lived by at Krapež for four generations.
Every decision in the vineyard and cellar is dictated by two questions: what the vine needs and what nature demands of this vintage.
Our vineyards lie on elevated southern slopes above Vrhpolje, between 150 and 250 meters above sea level. The soil is marl and flysch — rich deposits that were once left here by the sea. The marl retains moisture, enriches the wine with minerals, and is the foundation of the character that you recognize in every glass.
The climate is shaped by two opposing winds: the warm and humid Mornik from the southwest and the cold, dry Bora from the northeast. Their constant alternation aerates the vines, preserves the health of the grapes, and gives the wines a freshness and intensity that are uniquely Vipava.
The planting density is 5,000 vines per hectare, the harvest is manual, the yields are small — from 1 to 1.5 kg of grapes per vine. Not by chance, but on purpose.
VINEYARDS
From marly soil
“Viticulture and winemaking are not just work — but also passion, excitement, discovery, search, a journey that never ends.”
— Martin Krapež
ORGANIC PRODUCTION
In harmony with nature — nothing more, nothing less
As part of the agricultural industry, we fully depend on our surroundings, just as it depends on us. That's why we grow our produce organically and sustainably. Over the past decades the carbon footprint of the winery has been positive, which is something we're really proud of.
Since 2020, we have been cultivating all vineyards according to organic guidelines. We received the organic production certificate in 2023. No synthetic agents, no chemical fertilizers. We work in the vineyard with our hands and with observation — the rhythm of nature determines the rhythm of work.
The organic approach is not just a decision to farm certified. It is a continuation of a long tradition of respect for this place. The land that gave us our survival and identity deserves to be preserved as it is.
THE CELLAR
Spontaneous. Slow. Unfiltered.
The wines are aged in oak and acacia barrels. They are bottled without cleaning or filtration, with a low sulfite content. Every vintage is different — and it should be. The wine is a mirror of that year, not a formula.
Among the white varieties, we grow Zelen, Pinela, Poljšakica, Malvazija, Rebula and Laški Riesling — indigenous varieties that are native almost exclusively to the Vipava Valley. Among the red varieties, we grow Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Barbera and Modra Frankinja.
VISIT US
Get to know our wines at the source
You are invited to visit the Krapež organic wine cellar in Vrhpolje in the Vipava Valley, where you can taste our natural wines with maceration — from indigenous Zelena and Malvasia to structured red wines — and learn about the story of the place that shapes them.