Wine importers and distributors in Slovenia often combine domestic wines with selected international producers. A foreign winery therefore needs to demonstrate how its range complements what the buyer already sells. Start with a specific customer, price band and portfolio gap, then establish the purchasing route and the support required for a launch.

Company profiles updated 28 September 2026. This guide covers Slovenian buyer selection, sample preparation and practical market entry.

Position an imported wine within the buyer’s range

The distributors below illustrate the role of mixed portfolios. Koželj represents Slovenian and foreign wineries, while eVino supplies wines from Slovenia and other countries through retail and a business programme. Merit HP provides a broader brand-distribution model. For an exporter, the question is where a new estate fits within those existing commitments.

Identify the wine’s commercial role before describing the whole winery. It might be an appellation missing from the list, a distinctive restaurant pairing, or a price step between two existing wines. A general claim of premium quality is less useful than a precise explanation of who will buy the wine and why the buyer should add it.

Evaluate Slovenia as a market in its own right. If a partner proposes distribution in neighbouring countries, ask for the accounts, sales team and legal entity responsible in each territory. Geographic proximity alone does not create regional coverage. Our wine export market selection guide helps compare the resources each market would require.

10 wine importers in Slovenia to research

These 10 importers illustrate specialist retail, trade distribution and wider drinks portfolios. Compare your wines with domestic and imported labels already represented, and qualify any neighbouring-country proposal separately.

Merit HP

Merit HP represents and distributes brands in Slovenia, providing logistics, sales, marketing and after-sales services. Based in Ljubljana, it handles wine and Champagne alongside other drinks.

Before approaching: Confirm the wine category’s priorities, intended channels and launch resources expected from the producer.

Website: merit.si

eVino

eVino is a Ljubljana-based wine merchant with an international and Slovenian selection, an online shop and a B2B programme offering trade pricing and expert support.

Before approaching: Assess the portfolio gap, direct purchasing remit and pricing information required for a tasting submission.

Website: evino.si

Koželj Wines

Koželj is a family wine distributor representing Slovenian and international wineries, with specialist shops and wine-list advice. Its database base is Komenda.

Before approaching: Check how your range complements domestic and imported labels and which trade customers the team would target.

Website: kozelj.si

Belmond

Belmond is a Trzin-based importer with online sales. Its drinks categories include wine, beer and spirits.

Before approaching: Identify the wine buying remit and the price and customer segment relevant to your offer.

Website: belmond.si

Wine Independent

Wine Independent imports and distributes from Renče. Its categories include still, sparkling and organic wine.

Before approaching: Review estate and production-style fit, with certification details for any organic proposal.

Website: wineindependent.com

Gustarna

Gustarna is a Postojna-based importer with retail and online sales. Its categories include still and sparkling wine.

Before approaching: Discuss the intended retail positioning, a manageable opening range and support for customer discovery.

Website: gustarna.com

G3 Spirits

G3 Spirits combines importing, distribution and wholesale from a database base in Komenda. Its categories include wine, sparkling wine and spirits.

Before approaching: Identify the wine category buyer and the resources assigned to wine within the broader drinks portfolio.

Website: g3spirits.com

Terlep / Vina.si

Terlep Stanislav is a Ljubljana-based wine importer listed with Vina.si. Its categories include still and sparkling wine.

Before approaching: Confirm the purchasing entity, target customer channel and repeat-order arrangements.

Website: vina.si

FIC

FIC is a Dekani-based importer and distributor. Its categories include wine, sparkling wine and spirits.

Before approaching: Qualify the intended customer territory and define importing, sales and stock responsibilities.

Website: ficdoo.si

Vineria del Ponte

Vineria del Ponte combines wine importing with retail activity from Ljubljana. Its categories include still and sparkling wine.

Before approaching: Compare the estate with the existing selection and agree realistic allocations and replenishment.

Website: vineriadelponte.com

Company-level facts: BestWineImporters database records reviewed 28 September 2026. These examples illustrate business models, not a ranking or a list of open buying requirements. Locations identify company bases rather than sales territories. Product categories are not necessarily exhaustive. The qualification points are editorial guidance rather than statements of buyer requirements.

Find importers that match your wines. Request a demo tailored to your origins, price range and target channels.

Match your offer to the channel

Specialist retail

Compare relevant shelf prices and competing producers before proposing the opening range. Give retail staff accurate, concise information on origin, grapes, style and serving context. If your production is limited, state the available allocation and likely continuity across vintages.

Restaurants and hospitality

Ask how the distributor builds wine lists and supports the people selling the wine. A by-the-glass proposal needs dependable stock and a workable purchase price. A higher-priced bottle listing needs a clear reason for a sommelier to recommend it. Establish who will present the wines and follow up after the first placement.

Broader brand distribution

A wider portfolio can provide an established sales structure, but the winery still needs a responsible category contact. Agree the target accounts, stockholding, introduction timetable and any marketing contribution. Confirm whether a national proposal involves direct sales, regional partners or both.

Prepare samples with usable commercial information

eVino’s published sample submission form is a useful example of buyer expectations. It asks for wine and vintage details, purchase prices excluding VAT, and hospitality and consumer price information. It also requires the completed form for inclusion in its internal tasting.

The lesson for exporters is practical: samples should arrive with the information needed to assess a listing. Agree the recipient and tasting brief first. State the basis of each price, and distinguish existing prices in another market from proposed Slovenian positioning. If a requested local price is not yet established, explain that clearly and calculate it with the buyer.

Provide technical sheets, available quantities, case sizes, pallet configuration, lead times and minimum order. Discuss who pays for samples and transport. A small, relevant selection makes it easier to obtain a useful decision than an unrequested shipment of the entire catalogue.

Make the first order repeatable

Calculate the delivered cost, including transport, handling, applicable taxes and trading margins. Agree payment terms, local label review and the required shipment documentation before dispatch. If the first delivery uses consolidated transport, determine how replenishment will work at similar volumes.

Define a review point around account placements, remaining stock and reorder interest. An opening order is an initial test; exclusivity should reflect the partner’s actual coverage and agreed responsibilities. Use our importer qualification checklist before making a wider commitment.

Find Slovenian buyers for your winery

Request a BestWineImporters demo to review the available Slovenian importer and distributor coverage. Share your origin, export price range, annual availability and intended customer channel so our team can discuss the data most relevant to your plan.

Compare related export markets

For a regional strategy alongside domestic wine production, compare portfolio fit and buyer coverage with the Austria wine importer guide and the Hungary wine importer guide. Qualify buyers, territory and commercial terms separately for each market.

Frequently asked questions

Do Slovenian distributors buy foreign wines?

Yes, the examples above include international wines alongside local producers. Qualification still depends on the buyer’s sourcing remit and whether your range fills a useful gap.

Should I send samples before discussing prices?

Agree a commercial brief first. Provide the relevant prices and product information with the samples so the buyer can assess both quality and viability.

Can one partner cover Slovenia and neighbouring markets?

Possibly, but assess each territory separately. Ask for evidence of active account coverage and agree the scope before granting regional rights.