Fifth-Generation Winemaker Marjan Simčič on Biodynamics and Brda's Terroir

Marjan Simčič, hailing from a family with five generations of winemaking experience, champions biodynamic principles he learned from his father and grandfather. His approach to winemaking is deeply rooted in nature, drawing from a rich family legacy that once encompassed hospitality and trade in the village of Medani.

Simčič's family history is a testament to resilience. While his ancestors ran a successful hospitality business and engaged in trade, the post-World War II era brought significant challenges. Nationalization of their inn and shifting borders disrupted their operations, leading some family members to emigrate. Those who remained, including Simčič's grandfather and father, faced limitations on wine production, forcing them to sell grapes or join cooperatives. The family also diversified into fruit farming, transporting cherries and peaches to distant markets.

Despite these historical hurdles, the family persevered. By the late 1980s, they resumed bottling their own wines, with Marjan joining the production after completing his technical winemaking education. Exports began in 1989, initially to Zagreb and Ljubljana, then expanding to Germany and the United States by 1991. This marked a return to their winemaking roots, leveraging the unique potential of the Brda terroir.

The Brda region itself, shared with Italy's Collio, possesses a distinctive terroir shaped by its soil composition and natural conditions. Historical records indicate winemaking in the area dates back to the 14th century during the Venetian Republic. The Rebula grape, mentioned in historical documents from that era, has long been a prized variety in the region, underscoring its deep viticultural heritage.