Sold Out
Šuman

Sivi Pinot Grigio 2019

Price: $42.95
Enter your email address below to be notified when this product is back in stock.
Tasting notes

Two years on lees in old oak gives this wine a depth and textural grip you rarely find in skin-contact Pinot Gris. The amber-brick color, dried apricot, and bitter citrus peel notes hold together with genuine structure, not just tannin extraction. It is one of the more serious and age-worthy orange wines coming out of northeast Slovenia.

BodyFruitTanninAcidity
Dried ApricotOrange PeelHoneyBitter Almond
  • Style: Amber-brick orange wine; 14-day skin maceration; dried apricot and citrus peel; Demeter biodynamic
  • Grapes & Terroir: 100% Pinot Gris; Demeter biodynamic; humus-rich and terrarossa soils near Lenart, Štajerska Slovenia
  • Winemaking: 14-day maceration on skins and seeds; native yeast fermentation; 2 years in old oak on lees; no SO2, unfined, unfiltered; beeswax-sealed bottle
  • Serving: Serve at 55-58F; no decanting needed; opens well over 30-60 minutes in glass
  • Pairing: Aged hard cheese, charcuterie, chicken liver pâté, miso-glazed vegetables, walnut-based sauces
  • Similar To: For fans of Gravner, Radikon, or skin-contact Pinot Gris who want biodynamic Slovenian Styria expression

Sivi Pinot Grigio is 100% Pinot Gris grown on Radovan Šuman's biodynamic estate near the village of Zavrh, outside Lenart, in the Štajerska (Slovenian Styria) district of the Podravje wine region. The vineyards sit on two distinct soils: two-thirds on humus-rich earth and one-third on terrarossa, which Šuman credits for the wine's vitality and intensity respectively.

The grapes are macerated for 14 days with skins and seeds, then fermented with native yeasts and no added enological substances. The wine ages for two years in old oak barrels, resting on fine sediments without racking. It is bottled unfined, unfiltered, and with no added sulfites. Šuman seals all his bottles with beeswax in place of foil.

The result is an intensive amber wine with a brick shade from the extended skin contact. On the nose and palate: dried apricot, citrus peel, and a slight bitter almond edge from the seeds, with a fruity and mildly oxidative character typical of Šuman's long-élevage style.

Šuman holds Demeter biodynamic certification and is one of the leading figures in Slovenia's Demeter network. He has eliminated sulfur and copper sprays from the vineyard entirely, relying instead on herbal preparations, sheep grazing between rows, beehives, and a complete no-plough approach to maintain soil health.

The tannic grip and oxidative profile make this a strong match for aged hard cheeses, charcuterie, or roasted pork. It works well alongside dishes with bitter or fermented elements: chicken liver pâté, miso-glazed vegetables, or walnut-based sauces. Serve at cellar temperature, around 55-58F.

Wine details

Dry/Sweet:, Dry
Wine Type:, Orange Wine
Wine Style:, Medium Body
Grapes:, Pinot Grigio
Farming:, Organic and Biodynamic
Vintage:, 2019
Alcohol:, N/A
Country:, Slovenia
Region:, Styria
Appellation:, Štajerska Slovenija
Bottle Size:, 750ml
Sugar Level:, Zero Added Sugar

We will process and ship your order in 2-3 business days, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with tracking as soon as the Carrier scans the shipping label.

Ground shipping time depends on location, here's a breakdown:

West Coast: 1-2 business days
Midwest: 3-4 business days
East Coast: 5 business days

Process time is not shipping time. Shipping time starts from the days successive to the day of shipping, after the order has been processed.

See here our shipping policy.


Important Compliance Requirements

FedEx and other carriers we might occasionally use can only deliver wine to customers who are 21 years or older. Someone must be at the address to receive the package, carriers don't just drop a package and leave. They must ensure the person receiving the wine is 21 or older.


Re-shipping a Package

If a package is returned to us after three failed delivery attempts, we can only re-ship the wine upon payment of a re-shipping fee, to be determined based on the shipping address and number of bottles. Shipping wine is extremely expensive. We are sorry about this, but we have no other choice. Please make sure there's always someone at the address you enter as your shipping address.

If you'd like to receive a refund for a package that was returned to us after FedEx made three delivery attempts, we can do that but we must keep a $20 refund fee; FedEx charges us a lot of money for returns, unfortunately, I can't stress this enough.


Re-routing a Package

If you'd like to reroute a package after it's been shipped, we can do so for a $20 re-routing fee. We cannot re-route a package across state borders. For any change of address, please contact us as soon as possible, ideally within 1-2 days from placing the order or we cannot guarantee we'll be able to reroute or change your order's shipping address.


Canceling an Order

If you'd like to cancel an order after it's been shipped, we can do so upon payment of a small cancellation fee – the amount depends on the size of the order. Carriers charge us a lot of money to recall a package en-route.


Heat/Frost damage

We are not responsible for heat- or frost-related issues. We offer ice-packs upon request. Please let us know if you think that there could be heat-related issues. If we don't hear anything from you regarding weather issues before an order is shipped, or if you don't request a hold due to the weather, we are not responsible for heat/frost damage.


Placed an order. What next?

1. You will receive an order confirmation email with your order summary.*

2. As soon as your order ships from the warehouse, usually within 2-3 business days, this applies to all shipping rates, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with your tracking information. 2DAY shipping refers to shipping time; we still need 2-3 business days to prepare an order. We need to pick and pack, QA, add printed collateral, and palletize the orders.

3. Please track your package using the tracking service.

4. The carrier will attempt delivery a maximum of 3 times. After 3 delivery attempts, your package will be sent back to our warehouse.**

*Please ensure your email address is correct; otherwise, you will not receive the order and shipping confirmation emails.

**If delivery is attempted 3 times without success, or if you fail to retrieve your package from the carrier depot by the stated deadline, the shipping fee will not be refunded to the customer.

Returns Policy

If you are not satisfied with your purchase, please contact us at (424) 414-2040 or via e-mail at hello@primalwine.com between 9 am and 5 pm Pacific Standard Time, Monday through Sunday, we would like to understand and try to solve your concerns. We can offer refunds only as store credit.

Producer profile

Šuman

Radovan Šuman was born in Slovenian Styria when it still belonged to Yugoslavia. His father, also a winemaker, fell ill when Radovan was a teenager, leaving him in control of the family's winery and its four hectares of vines planted with roughly a dozen mostly Eastern European varieties. Self-taught from the start, he came to biodynamic agriculture through his study of quantum physics, which led him to the writings of Rudolf Steiner. He has practiced biodynamic farming for over two decades and holds Demeter certification. He is recognized as one of the leading figures in Slovenia's Demeter network and has influenced that organization's standards for livestock-to-hectare ratios.

The estate's seven hectares of vineyards are near the village of Zavrh outside Lenart, in the Srednje Slovenske Gorice hills. Šuman keeps 25 beehives in the vineyards and uses beeswax to seal all bottles. He maintains a flock of sheep that graze between the rows and has ended ploughing entirely. Sulfur and copper sprays have been eliminated; the vineyard is managed exclusively with homemade herbal preparations. Fruit trees, lavender, sage, and other plants grow among the vines as part of a deliberate biodiversity strategy.

In the cellar, Šuman's approach centers on long maceration for both reds and whites, followed by extended aging in old oak, chestnut, and cherry foudres. Native yeast fermentation only. No added sulfites at any point in vinification. Racking is kept to a minimum. Wines are unfiltered and unfined. The Sivi Pinot Grigio is macerated for 14 days on skins and seeds, then aged two years in old oak barrels on fine sediments before bottling.

Wine region

Styria, Slovenia

Štajerska Slovenija (Slovenian Styria) is the largest wine district in Slovenia, covering approximately 5,400 hectares in the northeastern corner of the country within the broader Podravje wine region. It borders Austria to the north and sits between the Drava and Mura rivers. The terrain is rolling hills with south-facing slopes at moderate elevations of roughly 250 to 400 meters. Climate is continental: cold winters, warm summers, and cooling Alpine influence from the Pohorje Hills to the west, which preserves acidity in the grapes.

Soils across Štajerska are diverse, with sandy clay, marl, limestone, and opoka (a local calcareous marlstone) all present depending on the subdistrict. The region is organized into wine districts including Haloze, Maribor, Ljutomer-Ormož, and Srednje Slovenske Gorice, where Šuman's vineyards near Lenart are located. White varieties dominate, accounting for nearly all production. Key grapes include Laški Rizling (Welschriesling), Renski Rizling (Rhine Riesling), Šipon (Furmint), Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Traminec.

Frequently asked question

We will process and ship your order in 2-3 business days, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with tracking as soon as the Carrier scans the shipping label.

Ground shipping time depends on location, here's a breakdown:

West Coast: 1-2 business days
Midwest: 3-4 business days
East Coast: 5 business days

Process time is not shipping time. Shipping time starts from the days successive to the day of shipping, after the order has been processed.

See here our shipping policy.

Signature on delivery is mandatory for wine deliveries. Please make sure someone is at the shipping address to sign for the package.

If applicable, please consider delivering the package to a business address to ensure someone is available to sign for the package.

We also have the option of delivering the package to a Carrier's store for pickup. Please reach out to us to coordinate.

Carrier will try to delivery a package up to three times before returning the package to us.

See here our shipping policy.

If you miss a delivery and a package gets returned to us we have two options:

1) Reship the package right away: due to the very high cost of shipping and returns, we must charge a re-shipping fee to be determined based on package size and shipping destination.

2) Consolidate the returned package with your next order: this option is free of charge and it's the most popular option.

See here our shipping policy.

This collection features our best selling natural wine from all around the world. It's the best place to start you natural wine journey! Browse one of the largest selections of natural wine available online in the United States.

Primal Wine Natural Wine Club is the best way to discover natural wine. Let us do the heavy-lifting, sit back, and relax. We will send you an ever-changing selection of natural wine made by top producers from around the world.

Our customers love Primal

I'm just copying and pasting from the hundreds messages we received, no pseudo reviews!
Erin C.

We love our membership so far and can't wait until our next shipment.

Jennifer B.

A note to say that we are loving the tasting notes sheet you’re sending!

James S.

I'm really happy to find Primal – your selections are terrific. 

Samuel M.

Love your company, always a great wine selection. 

Chelsea V.

I love what you guys do!

What Is | Primal Wine

What is natural wine?

Natural wine is a type of wine made in small batches from organic or biodynamic grapes with minimal intervention.
What Is Biodynamic Wine Info Cards | Primal Wine

What is Biodynamics?

Biodynamic wine is wine made from grapes farmed biodynamically. Biodynamic farming is a holistic approach.
What Is Organic Wine Info Cards | Primal Wine

What is organic wine?

Organic wine is made with grapes farmed organically. Organic farming is an alternative to conventional farming.
What Is Vegan Wine Info Cards | Primal Wine

What is vegan wine?

Vegan wine is wine made without using animal products during the fining phase of the clarification process.