Saints Hills Winery 'Mala' Nevina

Saints Hills Winery 'Mala' Nevina is a Croatian rosé from central Istria, built on an unusual blend of Malvazija Istriana and Chardonnay grown in the red soil and limestone vineyards of Sv. Ante in Radovani. The wine ferments and ages for several months in concrete eggs and neutral wood, a technique that preserves minerality while adding textural depth without the oak signature common to conventionally aged whites or rosés. The result is a wine that reads more like a light-skinned white than a macerated pink—structured, savory, and built for the table rather than the patio. Saints Hills works estate fruit from central Istria, a region better known for white varietals than rosé production. The Sv. Ante vineyard sits on terra rossa—iron-rich red clay over porous limestone—the same geologic foundation that defines neighboring Slovenia and parts of Friuli. Malvazija Istriana, Istria's signature white grape, brings salinity and herbal lift; Chardonnay adds body and roundness. The concrete-egg fermentation preserves aromatics and allows for micro-oxygenation without wood tannin, while the neutral barrel component integrates the blend and softens texture before bottling. The wine pours pale salmon with a nose of white peach, wild herbs, and wet stone. The palate is dry, medium-bodied, and more about grip than fruit—think underripe strawberry, lemon pith, and a briny mineral finish that lingers. It pairs naturally with charcuterie, grilled white fish, or anything involving olive oil and salt. Serve it cool but not cold—around 50–55°F—to let the texture show through. This is a wine for oysters, octopus, or a simple crudo with good flake salt. Mala Nevina is available now at Off Premise in Lincoln Park for pickup at 1128 W Armitage Ave, local Chicago delivery, or nationwide shipping.