2022 Sott White

This is a first from Oszkár and very much reflective of his desire to find his own way through the wine world. There’s already a very similar product called “Bermet” in Serbia. It’s essentially a predecessor to Vermouth. While likely originating somewhere in India or China, the mixing of wormwood, herbs, spices and some sort of distillate started in the East and made its way West. The modern day versions are overly fortified and generally not of a quality Oszkár wishes to associate. There’s also a very old style of wine in neighboring Hungary called “Ürmösbor,” literally translating to “wormwoodish.” This style dates back in the 15th century over two hundred years before Vermouth came to Turin in Italy. Wormwood is also the German word “Wermut” which is where the French and Italian pronunciations come from as well. All that being said, Oszkár didn’t want to create a Serbian Ürmösbor either. In comes “Sott,” a name that has zero history behind it, but was instead the first letters to the Harry Styles song "Sign of the Times" that he was listening to trying to find a name. It is not fortified, but is instead 100% late harvest Furmint, mostly dehydrated with some botrytis macerated with wormwood, herbs and spices all foraged from the hills of the Fruška Gora. All barrel fermented and aged, it’s incredibly unique, oddly familiar at times, and without added liquor, still very much alive in the bottle.