Book from the heart of Zvonimir Simčič for every vine grower and wine lover.

"Whoever knows how to enjoy wine lives a better and more fruitful life," wrote Miro.

Those were turbulent years, decades of the post-war period when the Brda underwent major structural reforms and general changes that had the greatest impact on viticulture and winemaking, which at that time became and have remained the most important agricultural sectors in Brda. Although viticulture and winemaking in Brda have a tradition of several centuries, if not millennia, decisions could have been made in the 1970s and 1980s that would have led to a completely different present. It was precisely during that period that the simple, persistent, and sharp-witted Brici (inhabitants of Brda), under the vision and expertise of Mr. Zvonimir Simčič, preserved and further paved the way for modern viticulture as we know it today in Brda, and elevated the Rebula grape to an honorable place in Brda, at a time when it was being neglected elsewhere. "In the old days, people used to drink Rebula sweet and cloudy. That was a mistake because they literally wasted one of the best wines. The most that this grape variety can offer is as a dry wine. Only then does it provide elegance, refinement, and pleasant aroma." This is just one of the wisdoms that Mr. Simčič wrote decades ago, and it is thanks to him and his like-minded colleagues that Rebula remained predominantly "Briška" (from Brda) while this same-named wine is today achieving successes that Mr. Zvonimir would never have dared to dream of.

Zvonimir Simčič was the first cosmopolitan from Brda who tailored foreign viticultural and winemaking techniques to the Brda hills, local demands, and conditions, knowing that they were specific and different. Thanks to the uniqueness of Brda, he recognized the importance of the tradition of growing Rebula despite the pressure to introduce international grape varieties. One could say that Miro went out into the world with the mission to enrich his local hills with global knowledge, and then carry their wealth to the wider world. Therefore, I believe that the news that Rebula recently reached Hollywood’s movie screens in the world-famous series Blacklist would have delighted him. "Hey, I found that Slovenian wine you wanted, this Rebula," reads a short sentence that is much more than a random statement, as it confirms that perseverance, hard work, and belief always bear fruit and spread a good reputation even to such distant places.

He wrote about his professional experiences in the book "Vino med ljudsko modrostjo in sodobno znanostjo" (Wine Between Folk Wisdom and Modern Science), published in 1987. In the book, he combined the knowledge of the time about the origin of the vine, the history of viticulture and winemaking, key milestones in grape and wine production, the composition and quality of grapes and wine, which still shape the industry in many ways today. The book contains facts that were disputed or even ridiculed by some until recently, and that is why they deserve additional attention. For example, Mr. Simčič stated that "wine is born in the vineyard and is the fruit of the grapevine and the sun" and that "fertilizer is the soil's salt," while wine is its blood. At the same time, he wisely warns that "blind trust in technology and chemistry can lead to unacceptable results" and that knowledge is always the most important aspect for a proper understanding of viticulture and winemaking.

Already then, the visionary winegrower outlined and defined key milestones for successful and sustainable viticulture and winemaking, which we have been talking about in recent years. In his book, he was one of the first in Slovenia to address the role of wine in society and its impact on health. With striking titles and facts about the role of wine in different periods of our lives, which could still face criticism or even disapproval today, he was among the first in Slovenia to pave the way for social consensus on wine. And yes, today we know that some components of wine truly benefit human health.

It is worth noting that he also consistently criticized excessive and unreasonable wine consumption and emphasized that "we must not claim that wine can replace medicine. That would be a mistake. In ancient times, they correctly claimed that wine is a remedy for the body and soul, but it does not perform miracles."

With the thoughtful title "It is good to trust, but it is even better not to trust," he wanted to emphasize that the production of high-quality wine is not a given, but it requires caution, carefulness, consistency, experience.

As a fellow vine grower, I can sincerely thank him for writing the foundations of sustainable viticulture and winemaking back in the 1980s. The heart of Mr. Zvonimir Simčič will forever remain ingrained in the book Wine Between Folk Wisdom and Modern Science, and with the possibility of accessing its digital copy, I am confident that a part of him will certainly come to life anew in the everyday lives of every vine grower.

Yours sincerely,

Prof. Dr. Denis Rusjan