I was born into a winemaking estate – a place where life follows the rhythm of seasons, and where stories quietly live in the soil. From the outside, it may seem like something full of tradition and excitement… however as a young person, I was curious to experience more of the world beyond the well known hills.

Over the years, I travelled a lot, visited many countries, met different people, and experienced a wide range of cultures. Yet I was always returning home in between these journeys.

Through this, I began to notice differences in the way people live, gather, and celebrate. And gradually, I also began to see my own culture with new eyes – sometimes appreciating it more, sometimes realizing how easily certain things can be taken for granted when they are always close to you.

With time, I came to feel that through wine, and through the traditions around it, we as Slovenians carry something truly meaningful. Something worth acknowledging and sharing.

After all, culture here at the crossroads of Europe has been shaped by a unique history and a beautiful, diverse landscape. We do many things in ways similar to others, but there is also a way that is distinctly our own.