Page 66 - Terčelj, Dušan. 2015. The Culture of Wine in Slovenia. Edited by Aleš Gačnik. University of Primorska Press, Koper.
P. 66
he Culture of Wine in Slovenia
This data show that the area devoted to vineyards was continually shrinking. However, the
yield fell to a lesser extent as quality was increased due to modern technological procedures
involved in the growing of grapes and the production of wine. World competition in wine
production is forcing us to make fuller and more harmonious wines and we will therefore
have to reduce the yield per hectare, which will result in a smaller overall production of
wine. In view of this it would make sense for the EU to decree that it is yields that may not
increase rather than that we should not increase the land area devoted to winegrowing.
Wine between the two World Wars
Wine was present at all business deals and conclusions of contracts, many of which were
carried out in taverns. Slovenes used wine for toasts, wishing one another luck, good health
and happiness. Wine helped form brotherhoods. Wherever there is wine, there are hospitable
people. The ethnologist Dular says: “The custom of a winegrower inviting every passer-by
to his vineyard cottage is very widespread.”25 A winegrower shows special honour to a guest
by inviting him or her to the wine cellar for wine tasting, telling his visitor all about his
problems and successes. He expects the guest to give his opinion and is quite upset by any
criticism of his wine, particularly if it is unjustified.
In front of a vineyard cottage in Bela Krajina, undated. The archive of the Slovene Ethnographic Museum
25 Dular, 1994, p.
62
This data show that the area devoted to vineyards was continually shrinking. However, the
yield fell to a lesser extent as quality was increased due to modern technological procedures
involved in the growing of grapes and the production of wine. World competition in wine
production is forcing us to make fuller and more harmonious wines and we will therefore
have to reduce the yield per hectare, which will result in a smaller overall production of
wine. In view of this it would make sense for the EU to decree that it is yields that may not
increase rather than that we should not increase the land area devoted to winegrowing.
Wine between the two World Wars
Wine was present at all business deals and conclusions of contracts, many of which were
carried out in taverns. Slovenes used wine for toasts, wishing one another luck, good health
and happiness. Wine helped form brotherhoods. Wherever there is wine, there are hospitable
people. The ethnologist Dular says: “The custom of a winegrower inviting every passer-by
to his vineyard cottage is very widespread.”25 A winegrower shows special honour to a guest
by inviting him or her to the wine cellar for wine tasting, telling his visitor all about his
problems and successes. He expects the guest to give his opinion and is quite upset by any
criticism of his wine, particularly if it is unjustified.
In front of a vineyard cottage in Bela Krajina, undated. The archive of the Slovene Ethnographic Museum
25 Dular, 1994, p.
62
