A few kilometers from their home vineyards in the village of Oslavia in Friuli, Italy, the Radikon family now farms and owns vines just across the border in Brda, Slovenia. There is legally a border here, but the people on either side of it share history, language, gastronomy, culture, viticulture, and more. To emphasize this cross-border unity, Ivana Radikon (youngest sister of Sasa, daughter of Stanko) has named her first wines ‘POP’ – think ‘popular’ in the sense of ‘of the people.’ This is a nod to the shared, communal spirit of those not constrained or divided by international boundaries here, as well as an indication of the style of wines Ivana is leaning towards. 2023 was the first release of this very small production. For the POP Bianco, Ribolla Gialla, Malvasia, Tocai Friulano – the Friuli trifecta – are farmed organically, hand-harvested, destemmed and co-fermented spontaneously without sulfur or temperature control and with a two-day maceration. The wine goes through malolactic fermentation and is aged for 10 months in stainless steel with a racking or two, then is bottled without filtration and with only a small bit of sulfur. The POP wines are the youngest, freshest take on the Radikon style yet, though the Bianco absolutely retains that spark of serious-meets-spirited character that makes their whites stand out in the first place. Aromas of chamomile and sage lead the nose, joined by lemon balm and verbena for a lifted, herbal brightness. A rush of caramel-kissed Granny Smith apple and browned butter, a contrast of richness and snap that immediately catches the palate. Notes of lightly singed orange rind and cinnamon bring tension and a faint bitterness, before the fruit turns playful — think peach rings and lychee gummies. The finish is marked by a citrusy bite, framing the wine’s tactile, lingering grip. A stylish, juicy, contemporary white, it’s a wine that certainly – well – pops, and we’re thrilled to have yet another standout bottling from one of the first families of Friuli.