Page 46 - Terčelj, Dušan. 2015. The Culture of Wine in Slovenia. Edited by Aleš Gačnik. University of Primorska Press, Koper.
P. 46
he Culture of Wine in Slovenia
occasion we visited a cellar in Burgundy and were somewhat noisy, the vintner told us that
there must be silence in the cellar so that the wine was not disturbed in its development.
This attitude fills you with respect for wine, which it greatly deserves.
Let us enjoy nature, preserve it, take all the goodness it offers. Let us not discard the thou-
sands of years of efforts by our forbears who created for us such wonderful wines, let us
only improve wine’s quality, try to extract the hitherto hidden qualities that the vine still
hides in its fruit. Let us preserve the wealth we have inherited from our predecessors and
leave it to our children.
Slovenia is part of the European Union. Now we have to preserve or even create our own
identity in every domain, including that of wine. Globalisation, with its goal of uniformity,
will pass; what will be left will be the global struggle for survival. Man will always strive
for quality, goodness, beauty and diversity, even with respect to wine. That is our future.
And these are my thoughts at a time when we are adopting new legislation. Let this also be
a farewell and a testament to the fifty years I have worked in this wonderful profession.
Wine past and present
The history of viniculture in Slovenia
Wine is the fermented juice of the fruit of the vine – Vitis
vinifera. Louis Pasteur defined it as the healthiest and
most hygienic drink. No other drink has been so well
researched with regard to its components and is so varied
in terms of aromas and flavours. Numerous research
laboratories study the technology of winemaking, trying to
further improve its quality and arrive at new findings. Wine
is the most respected and valued drink. As early as in Antiquity
Bacchus, the god of wine,
is a popular decorative
element in Tuscan wine
shops and hostelries, 2006.
Photo: Aleš Gačnik.
The worshipping of Dionysius can still
be recognised in the traditional rituals
at Shrovetide in some of the masked
characters in central Sardinia. The
ritually sacrificed dead sheep or goat
is revived with wine, stored in wooden
vessels, which symbolises the natural
cycle. Members of Mamutzones of
Samugheo on Sardinia, 2001, 2004.
Photo: Aleš Gačnik.
42
occasion we visited a cellar in Burgundy and were somewhat noisy, the vintner told us that
there must be silence in the cellar so that the wine was not disturbed in its development.
This attitude fills you with respect for wine, which it greatly deserves.
Let us enjoy nature, preserve it, take all the goodness it offers. Let us not discard the thou-
sands of years of efforts by our forbears who created for us such wonderful wines, let us
only improve wine’s quality, try to extract the hitherto hidden qualities that the vine still
hides in its fruit. Let us preserve the wealth we have inherited from our predecessors and
leave it to our children.
Slovenia is part of the European Union. Now we have to preserve or even create our own
identity in every domain, including that of wine. Globalisation, with its goal of uniformity,
will pass; what will be left will be the global struggle for survival. Man will always strive
for quality, goodness, beauty and diversity, even with respect to wine. That is our future.
And these are my thoughts at a time when we are adopting new legislation. Let this also be
a farewell and a testament to the fifty years I have worked in this wonderful profession.
Wine past and present
The history of viniculture in Slovenia
Wine is the fermented juice of the fruit of the vine – Vitis
vinifera. Louis Pasteur defined it as the healthiest and
most hygienic drink. No other drink has been so well
researched with regard to its components and is so varied
in terms of aromas and flavours. Numerous research
laboratories study the technology of winemaking, trying to
further improve its quality and arrive at new findings. Wine
is the most respected and valued drink. As early as in Antiquity
Bacchus, the god of wine,
is a popular decorative
element in Tuscan wine
shops and hostelries, 2006.
Photo: Aleš Gačnik.
The worshipping of Dionysius can still
be recognised in the traditional rituals
at Shrovetide in some of the masked
characters in central Sardinia. The
ritually sacrificed dead sheep or goat
is revived with wine, stored in wooden
vessels, which symbolises the natural
cycle. Members of Mamutzones of
Samugheo on Sardinia, 2001, 2004.
Photo: Aleš Gačnik.
42
