We all remember the date of our birth. We remember dates of important events. Such as the beginning of World War II. Or the day when man set foot on the Moon. Some older colleagues remember the battles of Sutjeska and Neretva as well as the birthday of comrade Tito. These older ones remember Dinamo spending the winter break in Europe. We remember the date of our marriage. Many remember more their divorce date. Personally, besides the date of my birth, 17.9.1967. and my marriage anniversary in, if I’m not mistaken, September, I will surely remember 11.12.2014. It was then when the great wine wizard, Zdenko Šember, gathered his family and with great care gathered their experiments and descended from the Plešivica mountain to Sherry’s.
Yes, it was definitely the best and most visited tasting in Sherry’s, as far as I remember.
Šember’s experiments, what can be said? It need to be tasted. Unfortunately for many, not all can. I recently wrote of Šember and stated that Šember is a great winemaker. Correcting myself: Šember is the greatest. You’ve all probably tried his champagnes, personally the best in the state, or for example, his phenomenal Rhine Riesling, but only when you try the wines Zdenko calls experiments, can you begin to understand all his wine genius.
We tasted in Sherry’s his champagnes from 2005. We also tried a black champagne from Black Pinot, excellent wine, personally quite dear. We tried a lot of things, each better than the last, but the Rhine Riesling of 2008 packed into those lovely, tall magnums, that wine thrilled me. It’s simply wine rhapsody. Although, Sherry’s was so crowded that we quickly concluded it must be tasted in peace, with respect but when and where – I won’t say.
So, all these macerated wines, amphora wines and wonders are kept jealously by Zdenko in his basement. I consider myself lucky to be among those who can taste them. I believe these so-called experiments should be bottled in limited, small series, as many would not consider the price.
But, so not Zdenko’s style.
I’ve only seen a few winemakers who enjoy the presentations of their wines that much, especially wine experiments. When one starts in his cellars, it’s hard to tell who enjoys it more – him or us. Zdenko is usually a bit on the quiet side. Not in the light. He might seems a bit repulsive sometimes, but when you break through the armor and get accepted, you’ve found a never ending fountain of knowledge and what’s more important – your life has been enriched by a fantastic person.
Ivanka Šember is the good spirit of the winery and naturally, the tasting room is her empire. I cannot recall seeing a person who smiles more, truly and contagiously, so a smile occupies your face whenever you’re with them.
At Sherry’s was also Nikola Šember who is running the winery more and more. An excellent young man. Nikola is already showing that, with his father’s help, he will be a great winemaker. He has all the conditions.
The Šember family really is a great team and great winemakers with great wines. What’s most important, they’ve remained regular, down to earth people.
Next year the G.E.T. team will prepare a reportage on the Šember family, talking a lot more about wine, as a wine named Pavel is underway, coming from the name of their village Pavlovčani, coming from St. Paul… in any case, we will do the research.
We will mention other family members, since those who haven’t tried grandma’s cheese strudel… don’t know what a strudel is.
In the end Sheriff… the tapas were great again. As always. But that 2008 Rhine Riesling… Dear God!
