Dušan Škubák (Hektár)

Dušan Škubák is the passionate, non-interventionist winemaker behind Hektár, located in the historic wine region of Svätý Jur in the Little Carpathians (Slovakia). His philosophy is one of deep reverence for nature, tradition, and the unique terroir of his home, summarized by his belief that, "Experience has taught him that nature does it best."

Philosophy & Winemaking

Dušan champions a natural, low-intervention approach in both the vineyard and the cellar.

• In the Vineyard: He practices ecological and sustainable farming, rejecting chemical sprays, herbicides, and synthetic fertilizers. His focus is on maintaining biodiversity and living soil, keeping agrotechnical interventions to a minimum and striving to cooperate with nature rather than fight it.

• In the Cellar: The "no-intervention tactic" continues here. All wines are spontaneously fermented using indigenous yeasts and undergo skin maceration, resulting in white, orange, reddish, and red wines with distinctive character. Maturation takes place in an old Renaissance cellar, using oak and acacia barrels. He minimally interferes with the wine, rarely racks, and performs no fining or filtering, using sulfur very gently, if at all.

Terroir

The character of Hektár wines is inextricably linked to the Little Carpathians region:

• Location: Gentle, southeast-facing slopes near Svätý Jur.

• Soil: Shallow, stony soils overlying a granite bedrock.

• Climate: A temperate zone with a well-balanced interplay of factors, where the ridge protects the vineyards from cold currents while allowing for beautiful, sunny locations.

Beyond wine, Dušan also explores his creative spirit by experimenting with barrel-soured wild beers and producing traditional mead, all reflecting his commitment to natural, artisanal craftsmanship.