Medana, Brda, Slovenia
Wines by Aleks and Simona Klinec
Varietals and key wines include; Rebula (Ribolla Gialla), Friulano, Malvazija, Pinot Grigio, Verduzzo, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc
Klinec Winery, nestled in Slovenia's Brda region, is a heritage estate led by Aleks and Simona Klinec. Situated in the picturesque villages of Medana and Dobrovo near the Italian-Slovenian border, Klinec is regarded as one of the most esteemed producers in the Collio Goriziano region, a cross-border appellation long considered one of the most distinctive wine zones in Europe.
The family has cultivated wine here since 1918, with Aleks the fourth generation to tend these slopes. Together with Simona, he works six hectares of mineral-rich, steep marl and sandstone slopes - a terrain shaped by prehistoric seas, nestled between the Julian Alps and the Adriatic. In 2005, Aleks made the decision to focus the estate exclusively on skin-contact whites and a small number of reds, returning to the traditions of his ancestors and setting Klinec on its current course.
Renowned for its commitment to high-end, minimal intervention winemaking, the estate is celebrated for crafting wines of exceptional purity, depth, and terroir expression. Its reputation places it firmly within the upper echelon of natural wine producers in this historically rich and geologically unique corner of Europe.
In the vineyards, the Klinecs follow organic and biodynamic principles, producing their own preparations and vegetable compost, and fertilising the land every three years to stimulate soil life and microbial activity. Alongside the vines, the estate also cultivates olive trees and keeps livestock, reinforcing a living, working farm ecosystem that underpins the health of the fruit.
In the cellar, grapes are fermented spontaneously with indigenous yeasts and macerated on their skins for anywhere between five and thirty days, depending on the cuvée. The wines then mature for at least 36 months on lees in an array of vessels including concrete, acacia, cherry, mulberry, and oak barrels, all of which have years of aging to them. Bottling takes place without fining, without filtration, and with only a minimal addition of sulphur - allowing the salty, mineral backbone of these remarkable Brda slopes to speak for itself.
