In a peaceful, historic village of Šmarje, the wine and olive oil farm of Ludvik Nazarij Glavina is perched on a hillside in the heart of Slovenian Istria. The story of premium wines and distinctive olive oil from Šmarje incorporated in the Santomas brand begins with 25 ha (62 acres) of vineyards and almost 7 ha (17 acres) of olive groves. Honoring the tradition and Istrian cultural heritage is at the core of the owner’s philosophy, and an honest, sustainable approach to both agriculture and environment is its integral part. In the vineyards you will find predominantly the refosco and malvasia grape varieties, while the olive oil varieties Istrian belica and leccino are grown in the neighboring olive groves.
In a peaceful, historic village of Šmarje, the wine and olive oil farm of Ludvik Nazarij Glavina is perched on a hillside in the heart of Slovenian Istria. The story of premium wines and distinctive olive oil from Šmarje incorporated in the Santomas brand begins with 25 ha (62 acres) of vineyards and almost 7 ha (17 acres) of olive groves. Honoring the tradition and Istrian cultural heritage is at the core of the owner’s philosophy, and an honest, sustainable approach to both agriculture and environment is its integral part. In the vineyards you will find predominantly the refosco and malvasia grape varieties, while the olive oil varieties Istrian belica and leccino are grown in the neighboring olive groves.
The Santomas winery belongs to the wine-growing subregion Slovenian Istria. We focus on the native grape varieties, such as refošk/refosco and Istrian malvasia, which are also the most popular wines in this area.
The Glavina family started olive growing in the second half of the 19th century. The rich tradition of olive growing and olive oil production has been preserved to this day.
We organize beautiful weddings at Santomas estate. Many couples have already entrusted us with the most important day of their lives – you can be one of them, too.
Currently, we cultivate 25 ha (about 62 acres) of vineyards in various locations in Slovenian Istria. Each location has its own characteristics (soil, altitude, humidity, proximity to the sea, sun exposure, etc.), which results in unique microclimate and thus ensures the specific character of the crop from each location. What all vineyards have in common is flysch, sandy soil, and the magical influence of the Mediterranean.
The vineyards range in age from 10 to 50 years old. The grape vines reach about 70 cm in height and are trained according to the Guyot system (single and double guyot). With the distance between individual vines being 70 to 100 centimeters, the approximate planting density is about 4,000 vines per hectare.
Currently, we cultivate 25 ha (about 62 acres) of vineyards in various locations in Slovenian Istria. Each location has its own characteristics (soil, altitude, humidity, proximity to the sea, sun exposure, etc.), which results in unique microclimate and thus ensures the specific character of the crop from each location. What all vineyards have in common is flysch, sandy soil, and the magical influence of the Mediterranean.
Today the Santomas estate boasts a modern oil mill and a wine cellar, complete with a tasting room, an enological laboratory, a wine warehouse, and a wine bank. The wine cellar was built in accordance with the owner’s respect for the traditions of Istrian architecture and, based on the recommendation of the landscape architects, also in accordance with the unwritten laws on the architectural suitability of buildings in Slovenian Istria.
Today the Santomas estate boasts a modern oil mill and a wine cellar, complete with a tasting room, an enological laboratory, a wine warehouse, and a wine bank. The wine cellar was built in accordance with the owner’s respect for the traditions of Istrian architecture and, based on the recommendation of the landscape architects, also in accordance with the unwritten laws on the architectural suitability of buildings in Slovenian Istria.