Slobodné Vinárstvo (Majer Zemianske Sady, Slovakia)

The Free Winery

Slobodné Vinárstvo, which translates to "The Free Winery," is a family-run estate located in Zemianske Sady, near Hlohovec, in the Trnava region of Slovakia. The winery is known for its deep connection to its history, its commitment to biodynamic farming, and its focus on low-intervention, expressive natural wines, particularly orange wines.

A Century-Spanning Family History

The estate, known as Majer Zemianske Sady, was founded by the family in 1912. It was originally a large farm primarily dedicated to growing tobacco, with wine production as a secondary, but appreciated, pursuit (their pre-WWII wines were sold under the trademark K trom boxerom—Three Boxers).

• Interruption: The family tradition was violently interrupted after World War II when the farm and property were confiscated by the communist regime in 1948.

• The Return: The property was reclaimed after the Velvet Revolution in 1989, thanks to the preservation of old ownership papers hidden by the family.

• Rebirth: The family started replanting vineyards and reconstructing the historical cellar in 1997, culminating in the first commercial vintage under the name Slobodné Vinárstvo in 2010.

The Winemakers and Location

The winery is currently run by the fourth and fifth generations of the family: sisters Agnes Lovecká and Katarína Kuropková, alongside their partners, Mišo Kuropka and Andrea Jesenáková.

• Region: Trnava Wine Region (part of the Malokarpatská, or Little Carpathian, wine area).

• Estate Size: The family farms about 500 hectares of land (including cereals and other crops), with 17 hectaresdedicated to vineyards.

• Terroir: The vineyards are located in the Danubian Lowlands on loess soil, providing ideal conditions for their chosen varieties.

Farming and Philosophy

Slobodné takes a holistic and hands-on approach to viticulture, focusing on rebuilding the farm's ecosystem after decades of neglect.

• Biodynamics: They operate according to biodynamic principles, completing the conversion to organic farming in 2016. They are members of the Austrian biodynamic association, Valtfiertel.

• Core Belief: They regard wine as a "living organism," meaning all processes—from soil health to fermentation—are conducted with respect for natural rhythms and without manipulation.

• Indigenous Grapes: They focus on both international and indigenous varieties like Devín, Grüner Veltliner (Veltliner), Riesling, Blaufränkisch (Frankovka Modrá), Cabernet Sauvignon, and Alibernet.

Winemaking Style

The winery is celebrated for its low-intervention methods and experimental use of traditional vessels.

• Fermentation: Exclusively spontaneous fermentation using native yeasts present in the vineyard and cellar.

• Orange Wines: A core focus is macerated white wines (Orange Wines), utilizing extended skin contact to extract flavor, color, and texture.

• Vessels: They experiment with various vessels for fermentation and aging, including Georgian clay amphorae (Kvevri), Italian terracotta amphorae, concrete eggs, large oak barrels, and stainless steel.

• Intervention: Wines are typically unfined and unfiltered, and made with minimal or no added sulfur (sulfites).

Notable Wines and Tributes

Slobodné often names its wines as tributes to their family history:

• Interval: A Riesling dedicated to their grandfather, Eduard Herzog, who was a musician (Interval refers to a musical relationship) and preserved the family's property deeds.

• pArtisan Cru: A tribute to Eduard’s brother, Peter, who died during the Slovak National Uprising in 1944.