📜 Cviček

Cviček is a Slovenian protected designation of origin (PDO) for a light red wine made in the Dolenjska wine-growing region in south-eastern Slovenia. It was registered in the EU on 17 February 2006.

Cviček is a still wine, light red to ruby in colour, with a fruity aroma of small berries. It is dry, with mild tannins and a light, fresh taste. It is a blend. Red varieties must make up at least 75 percent and white varieties between 10 and 25 percent. The specified composition is 45 to 75 percent Žametovka, 15 to 30 percent Modra frankinja, and 10 to 25 percent Kraljevina, Laški rizling and/or Rumeni plavec. Up to 10 percent may come from other permitted varieties, including Rdeča žlahtnina, Portugalka, Šentlovrenka, Zweigelt, Gamay, Chardonnay and Ranfol.

Analytical limits: natural alcohol at least 8.5% vol and total alcohol at most 10.00% vol; total sugars up to 2.5 g/l; total acidity of 5.5 to 9.5 g/l as tartaric acid; sugar-free extract of at least 17 g/l; ash of at least 1.4 g/l.

The maximum yield is 100 hectolitres per hectare. Red grapes are destemmed and macerated for no more than four days at no more than 22 °C. The method does not allow stopping fermentation, sweetening the wine or adding potassium sorbate.

Cviček may be produced only in the Dolenjska wine-growing region, in vineyards more than 210 metres above sea level. The region is bounded by roads, rivers and the border with Croatia and includes several additional named areas.