Page 133 - Terčelj, Dušan. 2015. The Culture of Wine in Slovenia. Edited by Aleš Gačnik. University of Primorska Press, Koper.
P. 133
ting to know
wine
Wine is the Slovene national drink and we are constantly in contact with it in our everyday
life. It is a part of our culture and general education, at least in its most basic elements. Thus
it is normal for a Slovene to want to know at least something about wine, so as not to look
foolish in social situations when discussing the bad and good characteristics of this drink.
How can we get to know wine? First, we have to acquire the theory and then the practice. In
terms of theory, we can look at books, magazines, specialist journals about wine, brochures,
labels, leaflets, etc.; there are also videos and films on the theme of wine.
Books about wine can be popular, professional
and scientific. For the beginner, popular literature
is recommended that introduces wine in the most
understandable way possible. I have already men-
tioned the first specialist Slovene book on viticulture
published by Matija Vertovec in 1844. Vertovec was a
priest in what is today Podnanos in the Vipava area.
He was a very educated man, with extensive knowl-
edge of everything that was in those days published
in the German and French literature. In his book
he described what were then the latest findings in
viticulture and chemistry, telling winegrowers how
to improve their wine production. He also published
a book about agricultural chemistry.
There are two anecdotes connected with Vertovec’s life worthy of mention here. When
he was still a curate in Planina above Ajdovščina and there was an outbreak of smallpox
in the area, he persuaded Dr. Majer from Vipava to be the first in the country to inoculate
children. This was in 1810, when that part of Slovenia was still under the French in the
Illyrian Provinces. He mentions this fact in his book, emphasising that children in Vipava
were inoculated even before Paris newspapers boasted that it was the French who introduced
inoculation to the Illyrian Provinces. It is also interesting what he wrote to France Prešeren
129
wine
Wine is the Slovene national drink and we are constantly in contact with it in our everyday
life. It is a part of our culture and general education, at least in its most basic elements. Thus
it is normal for a Slovene to want to know at least something about wine, so as not to look
foolish in social situations when discussing the bad and good characteristics of this drink.
How can we get to know wine? First, we have to acquire the theory and then the practice. In
terms of theory, we can look at books, magazines, specialist journals about wine, brochures,
labels, leaflets, etc.; there are also videos and films on the theme of wine.
Books about wine can be popular, professional
and scientific. For the beginner, popular literature
is recommended that introduces wine in the most
understandable way possible. I have already men-
tioned the first specialist Slovene book on viticulture
published by Matija Vertovec in 1844. Vertovec was a
priest in what is today Podnanos in the Vipava area.
He was a very educated man, with extensive knowl-
edge of everything that was in those days published
in the German and French literature. In his book
he described what were then the latest findings in
viticulture and chemistry, telling winegrowers how
to improve their wine production. He also published
a book about agricultural chemistry.
There are two anecdotes connected with Vertovec’s life worthy of mention here. When
he was still a curate in Planina above Ajdovščina and there was an outbreak of smallpox
in the area, he persuaded Dr. Majer from Vipava to be the first in the country to inoculate
children. This was in 1810, when that part of Slovenia was still under the French in the
Illyrian Provinces. He mentions this fact in his book, emphasising that children in Vipava
were inoculated even before Paris newspapers boasted that it was the French who introduced
inoculation to the Illyrian Provinces. It is also interesting what he wrote to France Prešeren
129
