French oak barrels ageing in the Castel Savina cellar

Where patience
becomes wine

A space for
slow transformation

The Castel Savina cellar is the heart of the winery - a quiet, cool space beneath the estate where the wines complete their journey from grape to bottle.

Every wine that bears the Castel Savina name passes through this cellar. Our reds and selected whites rest in French oak barrels, gaining complexity, texture and depth through careful, unhurried ageing. The cellar sets the pace, and we follow it.

The ageing programme is tailored to each variety and each vintage. We do not rush the process. When the wine is ready, we bottle it. Not before.

Stainless fermentation and storage in the Castel Savina winery

French Oak Barrels

Selected French oak barrels provide slow, controlled oxygenation and impart subtle vanilla, spice and toasty notes to the wines.

Controlled Environment

Constant temperature and humidity in the estate cellar ensures each barrel matures in optimal conditions throughout the ageing period.

Manual Monitoring

Each barrel is monitored and tasted regularly. Nothing leaves the cellar until the winemaker is satisfied with its development.

Limited Production

With no more than 20,000 bottles per year, the cellar is intentionally small - ensuring every wine receives individual attention.

Bottles resting in the Castel Savina cellar

From grape to glass

Harvest

Manual picking ensures only the best clusters are selected. Harvest timing varies by variety - we wait for optimal physiological ripeness.

Maceration

Whites: cold maceration for 3 days. Reds: extended skin contact for 25–30 days to extract colour, structure and complexity.

Fermentation

Controlled fermentation over 7 days (white) or longer for reds. Native and selected yeasts coax the fullest expression from each grape.

Ageing

French oak barrel ageing in the estate cellar. Duration varies by wine and vintage - we let the barrel and the wine determine the timeline.

Bottling

Manual bottling in small batches. Each bottle is inspected before leaving the cellar. No wine is bottled before its time.

Ageing by Variety

Each variety in the Castel Savina portfolio follows its own ageing journey. Here is how we approach each one.

Variety
Type
Maceration
Oak Ageing
Cellaring Potential
Chardonnay
White
3 days cold
French oak
7+ years
Cabernet Sauvignon
Red
25–30 days
French oak
10+ years
Merlot
Red
25–30 days
French oak
8+ years
Rosé-Grenache
Rosé
Short / press
Stainless steel
2–4 years
Žižak
White
Minimal
Stainless steel
3–5 years

Chardonnay 2024 -
A Detailed Profile

Our Chardonnay 2024 offers a window into our winemaking in detail. Grown at 70–120 metres elevation on mature estate vines, the grapes were hand-harvested, cold macerated for three days, then fermented over seven days before an extended maceration period of 25–30 days.

The wine shows yellow, light-green colour with white flesh fruit aromas - discreetly peachy, with higher acidity giving it a brighter, more refreshing character than many oak-aged Chardonnays. A wine shaped by the sea air of the Bay of Kotor as much as by the barrel.

Technical Specifications

Variety 100% Chardonnay
Vintage 2024
Origin Savina, Herceg Novi
Vine age Mature estate vines
Density 4,500 vines / ha
Yield 4 t / ha
Alcohol 12.95%
Total acidity 5.55 g/L
pH 3.48
Residual sugar 1.8 g/L
Cellaring 7+ years

See the cellar
for yourself

All our tour packages include a guided walk through the estate cellar. For our Old Cellar experience, guests also taste vintage wines and take part in a wine quiz. Reservations required.

Book a Tasting