Nursed in Vipava Valley, vines exported world-wide

One of Slovenia's premier wine-growing regions, the Vipava Valley has a vine grafting tradition going back almost 120 years. Today, their grafted vines are sold world-wide, the lion's share to France, the world's leading wine-producing country.

Grafting is a technique that joins the tissues of two plants together so they continue to grow as one plant. The upper part of the joined plant, the scion will give the grape its varietal characteristics and the rootstock should make sure the vine is healthy and pest-free.

After a vine louse, later named phylloxera, was brought to...