OMO - Milan Budinski

Following an extensive wine experience in over 20 vintages in different parts of Croatia, Europe and the New World, graduating Viticulture and Oenology at the University of Zagreb, finishing the Diploma in Wines (DipWSET) at the Weinakademie Osterreich, while contemporary working in the vineyards, as a cellar worker, cellar master, oenologist, Assistant winemaker, Chief winemaker, Director of production for the largest wine producing company in Croatia and wine consultant for prestige wineries ranging from several thousand to couple of million bottles; finally after 10 years of living and working in Istria, Milan Budinski in 2020. starts his own wine production there. Wines produced under the label OMO are made with the utmost attention to details, using exclusively local varieties, currently only Malvasia Istarska and Refosco, selected organic farmed grapes, natural pied de cuve yeast starters, simple winemaking procedures, but great attention to details and only minimum of necessary winemaking tools, aimed to preserve the purity and richness of perfectly ripe grapes. Unlike most other Malvazija’s or local red wines, ollowed by patient and precise maturation in oak and natural concrete, simply made with no compromise to show that great wines can be created anywhere. Details and philosophy surpass just the pure quality of the wine, the aim is to include the Istrian tradition, knowledge and passion by locally sourcing packaging (card-boxes, labels, design…), everything possible, as well as discarding plastic materials or unnecessary use of resources (lightest bottle on the market, natural cold stabilisation, bottling only once a year when natural cellar temperature is perfect, etc…). Every bottle is checked, after filling and ageing first for minimum two months in vertical position, for absolute perfection of details (label, cork, capsule…), hand wrapped in paper and layed down in boxes in horizontal position for further ageing and transport. Passion for quality in all details.