Straddling the border between Slovenia and Friuli Venezia Giulia, the hills of Brda form one of Europe’s most fascinating wine regions. With its charming villages, rolling vineyards, and Mediterranean climate, this is a place where Central European tradition meets southern soul.
We are in the Slovenian Collio, a land where culture and wine transcend borders. And here we find one of the most acclaimed names in Eastern European winemaking: Marjan Simčič.
Marjan Simčič: Elegance, Ageability, and Identity
Marjan Simčič is considered a master of Brda wines. His family estate, founded in 1860, has become a benchmark for precision, finesse, and longevity, combining modern techniques with deep respect for terroir.
He vinifies only estate-grown grapes, mainly from historical vineyards in Medana and Ceglo. Some of his most iconic labels — both white and red — are now available at Enoteca Hortis. We are also awaiting the arrival of his magnums, currently being bottled at the winery and available on request.
Grapes and Soil: The Language of Brda
Brda is famous for:
• Rebula (Ribolla Gialla) – crisp, vertical, and age-worthy;
• Sauvignonasse (also known as Sauvignon Vert, in Italy called Tocai Friulano) – floral, delicately bitter, and very food-friendly;
• Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Franc – often made as single-varietal wines, including orange and riserva styles.
The true identity of Brda lies in its soil: called Opoka in Slovenian and Ponca in Friulian. This is a stratified, friable marl and sandstone, which gives the wines minerality, structure, and tension. It is the shared geological backbone of both Brda and the Italian Collio.
On Our Shelves: Author Wines from Collio’s Heart
At Enoteca Hortis, we carry a selection of Marjan Simčič’s finest wines — deep, elegant bottles for serious collectors and wine lovers. Magnums are on the way, available by request and bottled exclusively at the estate.
Brda is more than a border zone — it is a frontier of taste, where every glass speaks of heritage, precision, and vision.
