Matjaz Lemut

Matjaz Lemut's Story

"Tilia Estate is a private wine cellar owned and run by us, my wife Melita and myself Matja. We are both University trained vintners and enologists who have had many international experiences, especially from Switzerland and California.

It is located in Slovenia´s south-western Vipava Valley, just 70 miles from Venice (Italy).We established our vineyard in 1994 and launched our first vintage in 1996.Our vineyard is called TILIA, which is Latin name for linden tree, that grows on the estate.

We met the Naked wines team and the Archangels and Angels at a Slovenian winetasting at the Embassy in London. We were so very happy when we were voted as the favourite wines of the night. There was lots of really great producers and wines there at the tasting so to come out on top was a big moment for us.

We really hope that you enjoy the wines. The way that Naked sells the wine is very interesting to us, please do write to us and tell us what you think of our wines.

We have written a little timeline of how our wines came alive, please read below for more of our story!

1987 Matja? Lemut in the second year of Ljubljana University, department for agronomy, is assigned practice on a vine-growing farm ZAHNER in Switzerland during summer.In the years 88, 89, 90, there are continuous practices for one or two months, in the time of winter cutting, summer work and harvest.

1988 - Melita (today my wife) joins in on those practices.

1990 we spend the summer and autumn together in a cellar Raymond California.

In December 1990, we decide to buy an estate without any vineyards in a home land of Vipava Valley. (3 ha of land and a wrecked house). We decided for a life in the countryside.

1991, we both graduated and until 1992, paying off the purchase of the estate by working in Switzerland; Melita in the Vitoreco - Nestle Research institute, and Matja? at the wine estate Zahner.

1992 we planted our first hectare of vineyards over the distance (Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir), and in December, their first daughter Nika is born.

1993 -1994 we plant 2 more hectares and start with the renovation of the building. In December, their son Gal is born.

1996 was our first harvest and they decide for a production of fresh white wines.

1998 there are barrique barrels made from slavonian oak in the cellar for the first time. Our youngest daughter Ajda is born.

2000, we plant the second vineyard (3 ha). For fun we also plant a small plantation of cherries. First aged red wines; Rubido and Pinot Noir arrive on the market. ZLATA TILIA (TILIA GOLD) is created.

2001 our wines are exported to USA for the first time, and can be found in the restaurant of the UNOAmericans name the fresh white wines with a yellow label SUNSHINE TILIA

2006, French barrels are used in the production of Pinot noir for the first time. Jancis Robinson visits.

2008 they build a new barrique cellar with a capacity of 500 barrels.Tom Stevensen visits and proclaims Pinot noir 2006 to be the greatest red wine he has tasted in Slovenia. Melita enrols for a PhD degree at the University of Nova Gorica, where she also works as directress of BSc. Study Programme of Viticulture & Enology.

2010, their wines are exported to USA for the tenth time and Pinot gris is declared to be the best-selling gastronomic Pinot Gris in Slovenia. "