Edi Simčič

When it comes to the winemaking style of Edi Simčič, one word comes to mind—controversial. Unlike many of the stainless-aged Italians wines available, even the white wines of Simčič are fermented and aged for long periods in oak, and are therefore almost French in style. Many top critics consider him to be the best winemaker in Slovenia. Third and fourth generation winemakers, he and his son Aleks produce in a fascinating zone, Goriška Brda, that up until the end of WWII belonged to Italy. (Today, the estate lies just 500 yards from the Friulian border.)In fact, when the Communist government first took power (1948) and Yugoslavia was created, the family’s lifestyle was utterly upended and turned on its head: suddenly, they were required to give a huge portion of their grapes to the government, and winemaking as they had known it came to an end. Edi even lost his girlfriend at the time, as she remained on the Italian side—so close and yet so far. Just five football fields away, young Edi found himself living in an extremely different world.Despite such staggering and life-altering setbacks, the Simčič clan has today risen to unprecedented heights. After the fall of the iron curtain in 1989, nothing—not even a hiatus lasting decades—could prevent this family from returning to what they do best: making wine… As we like to say, when you taste the wines of Edi Simčič, in a very real sense, you are getting a little taste of freedom.