Page 72 - Terčelj, Dušan. 2015. The Culture of Wine in Slovenia. Edited by Aleš Gačnik. University of Primorska Press, Koper.
P. 72
he Culture of Wine in Slovenia
Slovenia this view is advocated by some of the professionals involved in wine and private
small producers. On the other hand, there are some large producers and wine experts who
wish to create a uniform wine that can be made in larger quantities under the pretext of it
being easier to sell on foreign markets, thus renouncing any originality.
What is important for the future of our winemaking is whether we decide that wine should
become an industrial product or remain an agricultural one. Industrial wine would bring a
uniform wine, adapted to the taste of the modern world, created according to fashion, with
an unclear origin and character. Slovene consumers would no longer be interested in our
wine as they would be able to buy wine of the same type from abroad, probably of better
quality and for a lower price. The consequence of this would be that the best winegrowing
localities and large cellars would become the property of foreigners. Most other vineyards
would be abandoned and become overgrown, so that the beauty of Slovenia’s landscape
would be lost. Perhaps this is a rather pessimistic view, but if we think about it, even today
we have only half the area of vineyards that we
had a hundred and fifty years ago. And what
would wine as an agricultural product bring?
Initially, a difficult struggle for the survival of
our winemaking in competition with foreign
wines. We would have to improve the quality
of our wine as much as possible, especially its
The presentation of Slovene wines at the ProWein wine fair in Düsseldorf (left) and a scene from the 4th salon of the Prlekija
area winemakers in Svetinje (center), the construction of a klopotec bird scarer in Svetinje as a tourist event (right), 2006.
Photos: Staša Cafuta.
fullness and harmony, thus retaining at least the domestic consumer. We would have to
find foreign buyers through quality rather than quantity. We would need to be aware of
our smallness and look for advantages in it. We would have to increase the proportion of
grapes and wine produced without unnecessary chemical additives. Such wines are sought
after and bring a high price. We would have to look for buyers in exclusive clubs, hotels,
restaurants and wine shops, which is already done by some of our private winegrowers.
68
Slovenia this view is advocated by some of the professionals involved in wine and private
small producers. On the other hand, there are some large producers and wine experts who
wish to create a uniform wine that can be made in larger quantities under the pretext of it
being easier to sell on foreign markets, thus renouncing any originality.
What is important for the future of our winemaking is whether we decide that wine should
become an industrial product or remain an agricultural one. Industrial wine would bring a
uniform wine, adapted to the taste of the modern world, created according to fashion, with
an unclear origin and character. Slovene consumers would no longer be interested in our
wine as they would be able to buy wine of the same type from abroad, probably of better
quality and for a lower price. The consequence of this would be that the best winegrowing
localities and large cellars would become the property of foreigners. Most other vineyards
would be abandoned and become overgrown, so that the beauty of Slovenia’s landscape
would be lost. Perhaps this is a rather pessimistic view, but if we think about it, even today
we have only half the area of vineyards that we
had a hundred and fifty years ago. And what
would wine as an agricultural product bring?
Initially, a difficult struggle for the survival of
our winemaking in competition with foreign
wines. We would have to improve the quality
of our wine as much as possible, especially its
The presentation of Slovene wines at the ProWein wine fair in Düsseldorf (left) and a scene from the 4th salon of the Prlekija
area winemakers in Svetinje (center), the construction of a klopotec bird scarer in Svetinje as a tourist event (right), 2006.
Photos: Staša Cafuta.
fullness and harmony, thus retaining at least the domestic consumer. We would have to
find foreign buyers through quality rather than quantity. We would need to be aware of
our smallness and look for advantages in it. We would have to increase the proportion of
grapes and wine produced without unnecessary chemical additives. Such wines are sought
after and bring a high price. We would have to look for buyers in exclusive clubs, hotels,
restaurants and wine shops, which is already done by some of our private winegrowers.
68
