The Birth of Penina

“Champagne or penina is the most popular and loved among today’s Slovenian gentry. There is no true festivity or ceremony where penina would not foam.”

Novice kmetijskih, obertnijskih in narodskih rečí,

10 December 1853

Edited by Dr. Janez Bleiweis

Dr. Janez Bleiweis ( 1808 – 1881) a Slovene politician, journalist, physician and public figure.

This historic line marks the first-ever written mention of the word penina - the Slovenian name for sparkling wine.

Dr. Janez Bleiweis, a key cultural and political figure, also acknowledged Alojz Kleinošek, the visionary winemaker who brought sparkling wine techniques from France to Slovenia. After studying in Champagne, Kleinošek produced 12,000 bottles of traditional method sparkling wine from local grapes by 1852.

That article in 1853 wasn’t just about wine, it marked the birth of a word, a style, and a proud tradition. Penina represents the cultural heritage of Slovenia - a sparkling symbol of identity and craftsmanship.

Let’s discover together more about Slovenia’s sparkling wine tradition, its people, grapes, and stories behind the bottle of Penina.

📸: Dr. Janez Bleiweis ( 1808 – 1881) a Slovene politician, journalist, physician and public figure.