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Kmetijska zadruga Šmarje Obrtniška ul. 2 3240 Šmarje pri Jelšah phone: +386 63 821-211 fax: +386 63 821-237 |
The youngest of Slovenia's cooperative wineries, the Imeno cellar was built in 1988. The cooperative makes its wines from grapes purchased from contract growers, mostly from sites on Sladka Gora, Virštajn, and Tinsko. Imeno produces five thousand hectoliters (132,100 gallons) of fresh and lively wines annually, using only stainless steel vats and other modern technology.
White wines comprise the majority of cellar's production; Laški Rizling, Chardonnay, Renski Rizling, and Sauvignon dominate. Modra Frankinja is the pride of their red wines, and the traditional Žametna Črnina is also produced.
Eighty percent of Imeno's wines are in the quality range. White Virštajnčan is the dominant white blend, composed of Laški Rizling, Renski Rizling, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon. This is a gentle wine, with a pleasing neutral bouquet, light and fresh - a type of wine that can be full enjoyed only while still young. Modra Frankinja and Žametna Črnina are blended into a somewhat richer red Virštajnčan which is also produced as a rosé.
The winery produces one thousand hectoliters (26,420 gallons) of high-quality varietal wines annually. Their dry Renski Rizling has been awarded one gold and one silver medal at the Ljubljana Wine Fair; this wine is somewhat lighter, with scantier acids than its relatives from Podravje, and does not gain from aging. Imeno also produces an excellent dry Chardonnay.
Connoisseurs especially value Imeno's Modra Frankinja, a richly coloured wine which is among the best of its type in Slovenia.
The best Imeno vintages are 1992, 1993, and 1994.
