Branko & Vasja Čotar

Vina Čotar, run by Branko and Vasja Čotar, is a family-owned estate rooted in the dramatic Karst landscape in Gorjansko, just a few kilometers from the Adriatic Sea. Branko began winemaking in 1974 to supply his family restaurant, and the estate bottled its first vintage (1988) in 1990, evolving from a hobby farm into a full-scale organic winery.

Vineyard & Terroir

• Size & Location: About 7 to 8 hectares of vineyard land planted across multiple sites—Pečina, Olarija, Dražna, Dušče, Polje, Kot, and Ivanji Grad.

• Soil & Geography: The vineyards sit on terra rossa—rich, iron-laden red limestone topsoil overlaying limestone bedrock. The coastal influence and strong Bora or refreshing sea breezes create a dry yet vibrant growing climate.

• Grapes: Indigenous and international varieties are cultivated—including Teran (local Refosco), Vitovska Grganja, Malvasia Istriana, along with Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Farming & Winemaking Philosophy

• Organic Practices: The estate is certified organic. Cultivation is manual—no herbicides or pesticides—with very low yields marketed as one bottle per vine.

• Fermentation & Aging:

• Fermentations are spontaneous, using indigenous yeasts, happening in underground or above-ground wooden vats.

• Whites: Extended skin contact (4–10 days), aging for 2–3 years on lees in 200–2000 L wine-soaked oak barrels.

• Reds: Maceration lasts 10–20 days, followed by aging for 4–5 years in barrels.

• Sparkling and special cuvées are also produced via traditional methods.

• Minimal Intervention: The wines are unfiltered and unfined, with minimal sulfur (around 10 mg/L) added only at bottling, preserving sediment as a natural component.

• Signature Labels: Each bottle features a fingerprint label—Branko for reds and Vasja for whites—symbolizing authenticity and a personal promise of quality.

Notable Wines & Expressions

• Vitovska (Earthy Orange): Intense structure with energizing minerality, driven by long maceration and extended barrel aging.

• Malvasia & Teran: Standalone expressions of the region—textural whites and vibrant reds with saline notes.

• Terra Rossa: A red field blend of Teran, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon, celebrated for its balance and complexity.

• Sparkling ‘Bela’ & ‘Črna’, and Sladkominka: Special bottlings reflecting experimentation and tradition in effervescence and sweet wine styles.

Legacy & Philosophy

Branko and Vasja embody a philosophy rooted in simplicity, patience, and intuition. Their wines are not sculpted to impress critics, but to capture the spirit of time, place, and character—“living wines” that evolve organically. As they say, if the grapes are good, no artifice is needed. Many reviewers highlight the remarkable minerality and soulful presence in their wines.