In February this year, a new Wine Act was published. A significant change in the new Wine Act requires an organoleptic assessment of all wines produced in Slovenia, including wines without protected designation of origin (PDO) or protected geographical indication (PGI). It imposes a disproportionate burden on producers of natural wines, who previously had the option to forego the use of geographic terms if they did not want to submit their wine for an organoleptic assessment. According to the new Act, if the wine fails the organoleptic test, it is forbidden to sell it and needs to be destroyed.

There is no such restriction anywhere else in Europe. If the new law is not changed, it will bring an end to one of Slovenia's most internationally recognised export sectors and will lead to the collapse of farms whose primary activity is the production and marketing of natural wines. 

According to Alice Feiring, producers such as Čotar, Marko Fon, Kabaj and Klinec are among Slovenia's greatest ambassadors. Their wines are poured in some of the world's finest restaurants and sought out by wine lovers globally. Author Simon J. Woolf is convinced that these actions will reflect very badly on Slovenia, destroying its carefully built reputation as a wine country focused on heritage, tradition and quality. Dr. Matthew Horkey says that Slovenian natural wines are some of the most distinctive and special wines he has came across over his 10 years in the industry.

The aim of this initiative is to gather as many supporters as possible, to put pressure on the government to amend this part of the law and exclude organoleptic test for Slovenian wines without protected designation of origin. The initiative is supported by the organisations Bon Vino and Natura Vino (in the making).