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Ivan and Marija Borko Partizanska 47 9250 Gornja Radgona phone: +386 69 61-394 |
Ivan Borko is a true legend of Slovene viticulture. He comes from a family with long winegrowing tradition, studied and worked first in Austria and then in the famous Radgona winery. He planted the first vines of his own vineyard after his marriage in 1954. In 1972 he purchased an ancient estate in Cresnjevci near Gornja Radgona with a small vineyard and a 500-year-old vaulted wine cellar. Ivan Borko began bottling his own wines in 1979, and ever since his products have been famous for an outstanding quality that impresses even the most demanding connoisseurs.
For his great contribution to Slovene viticulture, Ivan Borko received the knighthood of the Burgerland- Pannonian Order in 1993, only the sixth Slovene to be granted this prestigious title.
Ivan Borko's family cultivates only five hectares (12.4 acres) of vineyards. His vines are immaculately trained and cared for, and the yield is kept low so Borko's varietal white wines are rich, aromatic, and noble: his Renski Rizling, Laski Rizling, Traminec, Sipon, Sivi Pinot, and Chardonnay all achieve outstanding quality. White wines of special quality are the family's pride, particularly late harvests of Renski Rizling and Traminec. Although Borko also grows Modra Frankinja, he does not make his own wine from it but rather sells the grapes.
Any vigneron would be proud to display just a fraction of the medals and awards won by Borko's wines. Ivan Borko's first gold medal was awarded to his Renski Rizling 1978 at the Ljubljana Wine Fair, and ever since his collection has grown every year.
There are no poor vintages of Borko's wines: the careful maintenance of vineyards and immaculate winegrowing produces outstanding results even in bad years. Connoisseurs collect Borko's wine avidly, and his bottles with their characteristic dark green label are sold out almost as soon as they are displayed. All Borko's wines age well, and the supply is far too limited to satisfy the demand.
