The vineyard now cultivated by Martina Strniša and Radojko Pelengić was planted in 1950 by Martina’s grandfather, Franc Kačičnik, after whom the couple, as a mark of respect, also name their wines. The cellar, built a year later, is still in use today, and the winemaking tradition has been passed down uninterrupted through three generations.
Their personal winemaking journey began with the 2017 vintage, when they produced their first wine—300 bottles of Modra frankinja, most of which were given away. The name Bela Gora (“White Hill”) originates from the history of the nearby Žička kartuzija, whose monks, dressed in white robes, once cultivated vineyards in this area. The estate lies just three kilometres from the charterhouse and is its closest winery.
After taking over the estate, Martina and Radojko shifted their focus toward more mature, drier wines with lower sulphur levels, gradually educating and shaping their audience along the way. Radojko is trained as an agronomist and is a doctoral candidate in ampelography, with extensive experience in research, Slovenian and international wineries, as well as working as a flying winemaker.
Today, they farm 1.5 hectares of mixed vineyards with approximately 4,500 vines (Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Welschriesling, Yellow Muscat, and Modra frankinja). In the cellar, they explore different approaches: new oak barrels for Sauvignon, a concrete egg for the white blend Štilj, skin-contact fermentations, and blends from old vines. Franc Kačičnik wines from Bela Gora tell a story of patience, knowledge, and place. They are expressive, precise, and full of character, with a clear identity of vineyard and vintage.
