Nizio Naturals: brilliant low-intervention wines from Poland
Website: https://www.dworsanna.pl/winnicanizionaturals/
Karol Nizio is making some lovely natural wines from a family estate in Poland, close to the border with Ukraine. His parents found a derelict manor house, restored it, and opened a hotel and restaurant back in 2010. Two years later his father bought a neighbouring patch of land and began planting vines. Karol joined the project in 2016, and the wine side has evolved quite a bit: initially the wines were conventional, but Karol started Nizio Naturals, which involves both the wine side of things and also providing farm-to-table food for the restaurant.
The farm is now 60 hectares, with 8 hectares of vines (60% of which are resistant varieties). There are also 150 sheep, 50 cows and a vegetable garden. The idea is for the restaurant and hotel to be self sufficient. So they have greenhouses, they do lots of fermentation of vegetables, and the menu is very seasonal. The whole farm has been organically certified since 2020, and farming is regenerative, too.
Nizio Naturals Seyval Blanc Traditional Method Brut Nature 2021 Poland
No added sulfites. Fresh, complex and layered with notes of herbs, straw and sour cherry, showing nice acid bite. Complex and focused. 93/100
Nizio Naturals Seyval Blanc Pokrzywa 2024 Poland
This is ‘nettle’. Taut and linear with nice acidity. Mineral, complex and savoury with a lovely acid line. Fresh and detailed with notes of lime and green apple. 93/100
Nizio Naturals Johanniter Rumianek 2023 Poland
This is ‘camomile’. Complex, layered and thoughtful, with pear and citrus fruit, showing real harmony and fresh acidity. Textural and fine with an expanding finish. 94/100
Nizio Naturals Riesling Krwawnik 2023 Poland
This is ‘yarrow’ and it does malolactic fermentation. Complex, fine herbal notes on the nose with some citrus. Lovely energy on the palate with green apples and lime, showing purity. 93/100
Nizio Naturals Orange Pszczola 2024 Poland
A blend of Muscaris, Chardonnay and Riesling, each macerated separately for three weeks then blended. Cloudy yellow/gold in colour. Lovely citrus, pear and peach fruit but also shows a stony, savoury edge and notes of orange peel and pot pourri. Really nice balance. 94/100
Nizio Naturals Regent Cabernet Cortis ‘Carla’ 2023 Poland
This is based on Regent (in oak) and Cabernet Cortis (in stainless steel). Nice concentration. Lovely balance with textured fruit and fine chalky, mineral notes under the bright, vibrant cherry and berry fruits. Textural, delicious and pure. 93/100
