Aci thinks of the long history of civilization and viniculture in Rifnik as a reminder that wine didn’t start with us, and it won’t end there either. Who planted the fist vines is unknown, but archeologists, have found evidence of Roman plantings. An old church nearby has engravings of grapevines in one of the stone walls.

“The biodynamic viticulture and all the processes developed in accordance with nature is important, as consumers can chose and influence who pursues re-awakening already forgotten farming methods.”

Being on a slope, his yields are very low, but the sugar and extract from the grape are high. The north and east walls of the slope are rocky and almost impassable. The south and west are gentle and arable.

“I found connections between and animals, lives and the soil kingdom This is the traditional way of farming.”

Aci is fiercely traditional in his farming and winemaking. He describes it as archetypical wine. He doesn’t add sulphur or rack. The wine is left in wooden casks, and when he feels it has stopped its progress he bottles. The wine is meant to tell a story of a vintage, but always with the greater theme of Rifnik. Aci believes that farming naturally both encourages vitality and “energetic forces” in the soils, but also maintains their quality for future generations.

Fermentation is natural without any added yeasts or anything else. There are no chemicals in the vineyard either, and grass grows freely between the rows. The yield is extremely low, half a kilo per vine. Cultivated from one and a half hectares on the steepest slopes. It’s very hard work to make these wines!

The second line is his “extra” organic wines which rest on the lees without sulphur.

“This is an ancient, natural method. I got the idea when thinking about how the biodynamic method could be brought into the cellar.”

Aci uses a planetary chart to determine many fundamental decisions in the vineyard and cellar. Aci’s evolved form of holistic farming and winemaking indeed takes biodynamics and the ideas of global connectedness to a step further, to the universe at large.