Semiška penina - Simonič

In the Simonič family, viticulture is a tradition of several generations. At the end of the nineties of the 20th century, Ivan Simonič decided to focus on the production of sparkling wines and became the first private producer of sparkling wines in Bela Krajina. Thus, in 2000, Semiška sparkling wine semi-dry saw the light of day. In 2001, this sparkling wine won a gold medal at the fair in Gornja Radgona with a score of 18.53 points and won second place among sparkling wines. This was a stimulus for further development, so the amount of bottles produced increased every year, as well as the selection of sparkling wines, which now includes the Suho and Blue Frankinja sparkling wine, produced in 2004, the Zlato sparkling wine produced in 2004, which are Added leaves of 23 carat gold and amber sparkling wine produced in 2005 with a specific taste, unique in Slovenia.

In 2009, the first series of Barrique sparkling wine from Semik matured, in which the wine matured in barrique barrels for a year before filling into champagne bottles.

The newest acquisition and innovation in 2010 is the Semik poseidon sparkling wine, which matured in the depths of the Adriatic Sea, namely at a depth of 30 meters, at a constant temperature of 12-13°C. Both sparkling wine and bottles or clay amphorae were shaped by the sea with its natural power.

The vineyards of the Simonič family are located in the Belokrajna wine-growing region, in Semič, in the area of Črešnjevac and Semiška gora. These are special sunny locations, which, together with the quality of the soil, enables the production of grapes in quality, suitable for sparkling wines. The vineyards are planted with Chardonnay, Kerner, Laška Riesling, Sauvignon and Blue Frankinia varieties. All sparkling wines are produced exclusively according to the classic champagne method, with another boiling in a bottle.

Every year, sparkling wines receive gold or silver medals at the Agricultural Food Fair in Gornja Radgona, as a confirmation of constant quality, and the medals were followed by:

• in 2002- two silver medals
• In 2003- Silver Medal
• In 2004- one gold and one silver medal
• In 2005- Silver Medal
• In 2006 - one gold and two silver medals
• in 2007- three silver medals
• In 2008 - silver medal.
• In 2009- Silver Medal
• in 2010- two silver medals
• in 2011- gold and silver
• In 2012 - one gold and two silver medals
• In 2013 - two silver medals
• In 2014 - three silver medals

The biggest achievement in 2008 is definitely the title of champion, which the semi-dry sparkling wine from Semiška won at the international food fair GAST in Split, Croatia, namely in the international - also many Slovenian competition. In addition, the Suha sparkling wine from Semik received a silver diploma at this fair.

In 2008, we also took part in the Vino fair in Ljubljana for the first time with the Semiška sparkling wine, where the sparkling wine received a silver award, with the number of points in third place among sparkling wines.

Special achievements in 2012:

1. January 2012: According to the assessment of the oenologists of Slovenia, the Semiška sparkling wine took first place among 65 sparkling wines at the evaluation within the framework of the 2nd professional conference of Slovenian sparkling winemakers, which took place on 19.01.2012 in Gornja radgoni
2. May 2012: Semiška sparkling wine was awarded a bronze medal at the International Wine Evaluation Decanter World Wine Awards in London
3. August 2012: Semiška sparkling wine received gold and two silver medals at the wine evaluation at the Agricultural Food Fair in Gornja Radgona

Semish sparkling wine
It is, like the French champagne, produced by the classic champagne method. The base is a wine made from grapes of the Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Laška Riesling and Kerner varieties, matured in the sunny locations of its own vineyards, which stretch out in the Semiški Gorice, as part of the Belokraj wine-growing region.

This wine is filled into champagne bottles and a starting liqueur is added, which consists of a concentrate of base wine, yeast and sugar. The bottles are closed with a metal stopper. They must be placed in a horizontal position and the process of the second alcoholic fermentation begins in the wine, the first one was already in the barrel. Alcohol and carbon dioxide are mainly produced from sugar.

After two years or more, the special shaking of the bottles directs the sediment that has accumulated in the wine in the neck of the bottle, which is frozen. When the bottle opens, the pressure throws out the sediment, the wine is replaced with a special expedition liqueur and closed with a cork stopper.

Sparkling wines mature and are produced in the cellar of Semič sparkling wine in the underground rooms in Semič, a part of which is also a tasting room open in 2005, which offers a special atmosphere for tasting selected sparkling wines.

In a specially equipped tasting room, we can accommodate up to 60 guests, who are offered a tasting of seven different sparkling wines, with a tour of the cellar and a professional presentation of the sparkling wine production process and advice on serving individual sparkling wines.
For the tasting, it is necessary to register in advance and choose from the various options of the offer, which includes a guided tasting of three to seven sparkling wines, without or with a cold cold cut.

In addition to sparkling wines, we also offer Sauvignon wine tasting from clay amphorae made in the Caucasus in Georgia. The wine is produced according to the old Georgian method, and by tasting it we return to the thousand-year-old flavors and aromas of the wine.