About us
Table of contents:
Laureate imports company
Laureate Imports Company was established in 1979 as a subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Trading Company.
Its original mission was to generate counter-trade benefits for The Coca-Cola Company in several European Countries where Coca-Cola was expanding business. Laureate imported wines to the United States Market and portions of the hard currency generated were used in the host countries to buy ingredients to further the soft drink business there.
In 1991, Coca-Cola sold Laureate Imports Company to a major wine supplier at that time in Slovenia named Slovenijavino. In 2000, Slovenijavino’s trademarked wines were acquired by the very well known and highly regarded winery, Klet Brda in Dobrovo on the Italian border.
Avia Wines, a nationally known and successful line of varietal wines, continues to be marketed by Laureate Imports Company in the United States under the ownership of Klet Brda Wine Cellar.
Klet Brda Winery
The Klet Brda winery is the leading producer and exporter of Slovenian bottled wine.
Renowned for its distinctive style and appreciated by wine lovers in Slovenia and 26 countries around the world.
The winery unites 400 families, who have been working together for over fifty years and have turned local wine making into a success story.
Our mission is to capture in our wines the uniqueness of the Brda terroir and use effective marketing to contribute to the development of the region and the prosperity of the local population.
The guiding principle in our day-to-day activities is a deep respect for nature and its cycles, as we believe that superior quality is born in the vineyard.
Our roots
Since the Roman times
Up to the end of World War II, when the Brda hills were split in two by the border between Yugoslavia and Italy, this area had known a special type of feudalism called the colonate system. Peasants had cultivated small patches of land, and wine had only been produced by 17 local castles, owned by foreign nobility.The Goriška Brda Wine Cellar was established in 1957 as a cooperative, which is still fully owned by local wine growers. We cellar their wine, market it in Slovenia and abroad and advise them about vineyard-related work.The wine cellar has co-shaped the economic development and the quality of life in Brda since the very beginning.
Brda
The Place We Call Home
Brda, land of invigorating moments, all year round!
Our Vineyards
The “Goriska Brda” Wine Cellar manages 1200 hectares of vineyards in the Goriska Brda region.
The largest share of vineyards is planted with the indigenous Brda variety Ribolla Gialla (27%) which is followed by Merlot (20%), Chardonnay (16%) and Sauvignonasse, formerly known as Tocai Friulano (12%).
In addition to the above-mentioned varieties the vineyards are planted with Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Noir, Shiraz and the indigenous Pikolit and Verduc.
On average a winegrower cultivates a little less than 2 ha of vineyards. Consequently, he pays a lot of attention to the care of vines, which is reflected in the excellent quality of grapes and wine.
Social responsibility
Responsibility towards nature, territory, wine and people.
Responsibility towards NATURE
In our vineyards birds nest. Mother Nature is indeed our greatest ally. Our vineyards are cultivated according to the principles of integrated production of grapes. The vast majority of viticulture practices are done manually, with great attention to natural cycles and respect for their characteristics. Maintaining a clean and healthy environment is for us, living and working with nature, of quintessential importance.
Responsibility towards the TERRITORY
We preserve viticulture in Brda in all its authenticity – among the vineyards grow fruit, olive and other trees. Thus, the cultural landscape remains varied and very hospitable. Traditional know-how is passed from fathers to sons, which secures jobs in the countryside and stimulates intergenerational cooperation.
Responsibility towards WINE and PEOPLE
Wine is part of our diet, our culture and our history. It is nevertheless an alcoholic beverage and should be enjoyed responsibly. As one of the largest wine cellars in the region, we actively promote RESPONSIBLE wine drinking.
AWARDS
| Year of Competition | Wine | Vintage | Type of Award |
| 2015 | Bagueri Chardonnay | 2011 | Silver Medal |
| 2016 | Bagueri Chardonnay | 2012 | Gold medal |
| Year of Competition | Wine | Vintage | |
| 2015 |
Merlot Bagueri Cab. sauvignon Bagueri Chardonnay Bagueri |
2011 2011 2011 |
gold medal gold medal silver medal |
| 2016 |
Ribolla Gialla Bagueri |
2012 | silver medal |
| Year of Competition | Wine | Vintage | Type of Award |
| 2012 | Bagueri Merlot Bagueri Chardonnay |
2007 2009 |
Silver Medal Bronze Medal |
Finger Lakes International Wine Competition – USA
| Year of Competition | Wine | Vintage | Type of Award |
| 2015 |
Colliano rebula Colliano cuvee red Colliano cuvee white |
2013 2012 2013 |
gold medal silver medal silver medal |
| Year of Competition | Wine | Vintage | Type of Award |
| 2015 |
Colliano red Bagueri Chardonnay Colliano sauvignonasse Colliano cuvee white |
2013 2009 2013 2013 |
double gold medal – best wine in all categories gold medal silver medal silver medal
|
| 2016 | avia pinot grigio | 2015 | double gold – best pinot grigio |
| colliano peneca rebula | 2014 | gold | |
| colliano cuvee red | 2013 | silver | |
| colliano ribolla gialla | 2013 | silver | |
| quercus pinot grigio | 2014 | silver | |
| bagueri chardonnay | 2011 | silver | |
| avia merlot | 2013 | silver |
Galician Wine Festival – Poland
| Year of Competition | Wine | Vintage | Type of Award |
| 2015 | Bagueri Merlot | 2011 | Gold medal |
| 2016 | Bagueri Merlot | 2012 | Gold medal |
| Cabernet sauvignon quercus | 2013 | gold medal |
| Year of assessment | Wine | Vintage | Type of Award |
| 2016 | Colliano Ribolla Gialla | 2013 | 90 points, BEST BUY |
| Bagueri Chardonnay | 2011 | 89 | |
| Colliano Cuvee White | 2013 | 89 | |
| Colliano Peneca rebula | 2012 | 88 | |
| Colliano Cuvee red | 2012 | 88 | |
| Avia Chardonnay | 2014 | 87, BEST BUY | |
| Avia Pinot Grigio | 2014 | 86, BEST BUY | |
| Avia Pinot Noir | 2014 85, BEST BUY |