Page 59 - Terčelj, Dušan. 2015. The Culture of Wine in Slovenia. Edited by Aleš Gačnik. University of Primorska Press, Koper.
P. 59
Culture of Wine Drinking
Carrying grapes in “dzeji” with a “buinč”, 1953. such as those related to the giving of
Photo: Sergej Vilfan, the archive of the Slovene wine to the Venetian Republic. Serfs
Ethnographic Museum. had to give a tithe to their lords, but
they were still left with enough to
sell and for their own everyday use,
in particular for consumption during
heavy labour. In the Vipava area and on
the Kras, farmers became independent
quite early on. Wine was kept at home
in cool, vaulted cellars, providing daily
access, but it was used frugally, there
was hardly any excessive drinking –
wine was a social drink, accompanying
important events. Even in the 19th
century the inhabitants were mostly
free farmers. In the Brda Hills, on the
other hand, there were quite a few
koloni. These had agreements with
land owners whereby they worked the
land, paying their dues in produce,
wine or money. The rest of what they
produced was theirs to do with as
they pleased. This situation remained
in place until the end of World War
Two, just like vine-dressing in Styria.
The post-War socialist system brought
many changes. The land in the Brda
Hills was given to winegrowers. In
Štajerska the land was nationalised
and state-owned estates were set up.
Vine-dressers now became workers
on these estates, rather than owning
their own land.
Wine was both drink and food (at meals
and during heavy labour), as well as
a social drink on special occasions.
Irrespective of the different historical
conditions in Styria, Carniola and the
Littoral, and the different customs in
different areas, to the Slovenes wine
The birth of a baby is in many places in Štajerska
always “watered” with wine. Lovrenc on Dravsko
polje, 2006. Photo: Sebastjan Kolednik.
55
Carrying grapes in “dzeji” with a “buinč”, 1953. such as those related to the giving of
Photo: Sergej Vilfan, the archive of the Slovene wine to the Venetian Republic. Serfs
Ethnographic Museum. had to give a tithe to their lords, but
they were still left with enough to
sell and for their own everyday use,
in particular for consumption during
heavy labour. In the Vipava area and on
the Kras, farmers became independent
quite early on. Wine was kept at home
in cool, vaulted cellars, providing daily
access, but it was used frugally, there
was hardly any excessive drinking –
wine was a social drink, accompanying
important events. Even in the 19th
century the inhabitants were mostly
free farmers. In the Brda Hills, on the
other hand, there were quite a few
koloni. These had agreements with
land owners whereby they worked the
land, paying their dues in produce,
wine or money. The rest of what they
produced was theirs to do with as
they pleased. This situation remained
in place until the end of World War
Two, just like vine-dressing in Styria.
The post-War socialist system brought
many changes. The land in the Brda
Hills was given to winegrowers. In
Štajerska the land was nationalised
and state-owned estates were set up.
Vine-dressers now became workers
on these estates, rather than owning
their own land.
Wine was both drink and food (at meals
and during heavy labour), as well as
a social drink on special occasions.
Irrespective of the different historical
conditions in Styria, Carniola and the
Littoral, and the different customs in
different areas, to the Slovenes wine
The birth of a baby is in many places in Štajerska
always “watered” with wine. Lovrenc on Dravsko
polje, 2006. Photo: Sebastjan Kolednik.
55
