Wine Tasting Reception Education: for St. Martin’s for Clemson VTIS Event Day University in New York > page 2 & 3 > page 4 page 7 > NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 27, 2015, VOLUME 11, NUMBER 27 Luxury Slovenia Presented at the Ambassador’s Residence On Monday, November 16, Ambassador Dr. Cerar hosted Following the opening Košir Gažovič. Delicious bites of in his residence a wine tasting address, Imperial Travel’s General traditional Slovenian dishes were event for the Connoisseur’s team Managing Partners Matej Valenčič accompanied by the wine selection of expert travel consultants. In his and Matej Knific presented Luxury which included: Radgonska Srebrna introductory remarks, Ambassador Slovenia as a highly accomplished Penina Sparkling Wine, Chardonnay Dr. Cerar outlined the importance brand which boasts quality, by Sanctum Wines, Batič Rose, of the tourist sector for Slovenian exceptional service and perfect Merlot by Zanut Kocjančič, 360 by economy. He emphasized balance between price and top- House Of Wine Doppler, Bagueri Slovenia’s advantages as a luxury quality luxury. Guests could also get Cabernet Sauvignon, White Pinot destination: its combination of acquainted with the wine regions by Ščurek and Kabaj Pinot Grigio modern infrastructure along with in Slovenia, which also offer a Orange Wine. Ms. Polona Brumec, beautiful and diverse nature variety of options for a unique travel representative of Sanctum Winery, and genuine hospitality, which experience. They also got to try and Ms. Marta Rojnik of the Rojnik provide sophisticated guests with the assortment of Slovenian wines, Hops Brewery were also present at unsurpassed luxury. presented by sommelier Ms. Andreja the wine tasting event. Embassy of Slovenia 2410 California Street, NW twitter.com/SLOinUSA Washington, D.C. 20008, USA T: +1 202 386 66 01 E: [email protected] facebook.com/SLOembassyUSA washington.embassy.si PUBLIC DIPLOMACY Wine Tasting at the Embassy of Slovenia Embassy of Slovenia in of the event were Imperial Travel region of Slovenia. The event also cooperation with the International Agency, Pelicon Brewery from featured a performance by the Club of DC hosted a wine tasting Ajdovščina, Rojnik Hops farm from Slovenian pianist Ana Šinkovec event for some 80 guests on the Savinja valley and Sanctum Burstin and soprano Klaudia Tuesday, November 17. Partners Winery from Loče in Štajersko Magdoń. NOVEMBER 27, 2015, PAGE 2 Following the opening connected with viticulture, the since the time of the Celtic and address by Ambassador Dr. Božo menu for the reception that followed Illyrian tribes, even before the Cerar, who emphasized Slovenia’s offered many of the traditional St. Romans introduced wine making most interesting sightseeing Martin’s feast dishes. The guests to the lands of France, Spain and spots, was a presentation of the could taste duck and goose meat, Germany. The oldest grapevine in country’s best tourist attractions red cabbage and mlinci pasta next the world, whose age is estimated and opportunities for culinary to the traditional Slovenian potica, to be over 400 years, grows in experience by Mr. Matej Valenčič Carniolian sausage, and trout. Maribor, Slovenia’s second largest on behalf of the Luxury Slovenia Vineyards cover 83 square city. The Old Vine in 2004 gained brand. Slovenian wine regions, miles (1% of total land area) of mention in the Guinness Book wineries and wine routes were Slovenia, but they are spread of Records. To this day, it still presented by sommelier Ms. among three distinct wine regions: bears annually between 150 and Andreja Košir Gažovič. Present the Drava Valley in northeast, 250 pounds of red grapes, from were also Ms. Polona Brumec, lower Sava Valley in southeast and which wine is produced. On the representative of Sanctum Wines, Slovenian littoral in southwest. occasion, a bottle of the Old Grape and Ms. Marta Rojnik of the Rojnik Each region has a very specific wine, made from a noble variety Hops Brewery. The guests could soil due to diverse geological of Modra Kavčina or Žametna throughout the evening also taste composition of Slovenia, hence črnina wine sorts, was presented the selection of Slovenian wines giving the wine a palette of tastes. by Ms. Andreja Košir Gažovič on from Štajersko and Primorsko This pride in wine making behalf of the City of Maribor to regions of Slovenia. has firm foundation in Slovenia’s the Ambassador, Dr. Božo Cerar, Because St. Martin’s Day, rich tradition. Viticulture and wine who accepted it on behalf of the celebrated in November, is closely making have existed in this region embassy. NOVEMBER 27, 2015, PAGE 3 PUBLIC DIPLOMACY Reception for Clemson University Remarks by Clemson University President Dr. Jim Clements. Ambassador Dr. Božo Cerar. The Embassy of Slovenia historical facts and geographical students, sports teams as has partnered with Clemson Club features of the country, cultural well as its alumni. In a private of Baltimore/DC, and earlier this highlights, and activities of meeting with the ambassador week organized for Clemson the embassy in Washington. he discussed the possibilities University alumni -- members of Business and education for future cooperation between the Clemson Club of Baltimore/ opportunities were introduced by Clemson University and DC -- a beautiful reception and political counsellor Mr. Borut Blaj universities and businesses in program featuring Ambassador and cultural officer Ms. Nuška Slovenia, especially in the fields Dr. Cerar and Clemson University Zakrajšek, who in addition to of forestry and automotive President, Dr. James P. Clements. the ambassador answered some industry. The program led into Ambassador Dr. Božo Cerar questions from the audience. a comprehensive conversation addressed some 120 alumni Guests also enjoyed a video that continued with a reception and in his remarks briefed the presentation of the country. with Slovenian wine and beer guests on Slovenia’s pathway President of the Clemson and culinary delights. The guests from independence toward Euro- University Dr. James P. Clements, could also enjoy a performance Atlantic integrations, outlined too, spoke to the audience and by an award-winning pianist, foreign policy priorities as well presented many achievements Ana Šinkovec, and singer Klaudia as included in his presentation and high scores of the university Magdon. NOVEMBER 27, 2015, PAGE 4 CULTURE Ana Šinkovec Burstin Performs at the Kennedy Center On November 19, pianist Performing Arts in Sheboygan, WI. Italy and Sweden, the inaugural Ana Šinkovec Burstin performed The pianist headlined the program Gilels Festival in Freiburg, the a recital at The John F. Kennedy with the SSO with Tchaikovsky’s Mahler Festival in Toblach, the Nice Center for the Performing Arts. grand Piano Concerto No. 1. Summer Festival, among others. During the evening, she presented Born in Ljubljana, Slovenia, She has made recordings Žiga Stanič’s Toccata (world Ana Šinkovec Burstin is an and played for televised concerts premiere), Chopin’s Nocturne and international prize-winning pianist. with the Slovenian RTV Symphony, Ballades No. 1 and No. 4, Scriabin’s She is the holder of master’s degrees Slovenian Philharmonic, Zagreb Sonata No.4 and Liszt’s Liebestraum from conservatories in Ljubljana, Soloists and Jerusalem Symphony No. 3. The concert was streamed Brussels, Bergamo and Paris. She orchestras. Ana made her London live – and her performance is still has won prizes in Germany, France, debut in 2013 with Rachmaninoff’s available for watching online at Slovenia and Italy, including First Piano Concerto No. 2 at St https://www.kennedy-center.org/ Prize at the 2000 Nikolai Rubinstein John’s, Smith Square with the video/index/M6548. International Piano Competition in Paradisal Players. She returned Prior to her engagement at Paris. In 2004, she was awarded to the orchestra a year later for the Kennedy Center, Ana made her the Prešeren Prize, the highest Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. American debut as a soloist with the Slovenian award for achievements 4, and has performed regularly Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra in culture. She has participated as soloist and chamber musician at its November 14 concert at the in many festivals across Europe, across London, where she has also Stefanie H. Weill Center for the including the Chopin Marathon in lived for the past few years. NOVEMBER 27, 2015, PAGE 5 EMBASSY ADOPTION PROGRAM Traditional Slovenian Breakfast at Mann ES For the fifth consecutive the Horace Mann Elementary inform and raise awareness of year, the Traditional Slovenian School students. The fifth- children in kindergartens and Breakfast project took place on grade class enjoyed the elementary schools -- and at the November 20 in kindergartens traditional Slovenian breakfast same time also of the general and primary schools throughout goods prepared and served by public -- particularly of the Slovenia. During the first school the embassy staff. Students importance of eating breakfast, period, children breakfasted on also became acquainted with of benefits of locally grown brown bread, honey, butter, Slovenian traditional ways of food, of agricultural activities milk, and apples, all of which harvesting, wheat threshing and preserving the environment, and were of organic and local origin. milling, making bread in a brick of beekeeping for agricultural The third week of November was oven, traditional butter making, production and economic first declared by the Slovenian beekeeping, and organic fruit activity. It is also important to government as Day of Slovenian growing. raise public awareness of youth Food in 2012. Originally initiated by of the importance of a healthy The Embassy of Slovenia the Slovenian Beekeepers’ lifestyle, including health- in Washington introduced the Association, the Traditional enhancing physical activity and Slovenian honey breakfast on Slovenian Honey Breakfast sports. Thursday, November 19, to project aims to educate, NOVEMBER 27, 2015, PAGE 6 SCIENCE & EDUCATION VTIS Event in New York Igor Cesarec. Ana Petrovič. Društvo v tujini izobraženih researchers and experts in the spoke about her research in the Slovencev - VTIS (Association United States. field of molecular biology.