Laureate Imports Company was established in 1979 as a subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Trading Company.

Its original mission was to generate counter-trade benefits for The Coca-Cola Company in several European Countries where Coca-Cola was expanding business.  Laureate imported wines to the United States Market and  portions of the hard currency generated was used in the host countries to buy ingredients to further the soft drink business there. 

In 1991, Coca-Cola sold Laureate Imports Company to a major wine supplier at that time in Slovenia named Slovenijavino.  In 2000, Slovenijavino’s trademarked wines were acquired by the very well known and regarded winery Vinska Klet Goriska Brda in Dobrovo on the Italian border.

Avia Wines, a nationally known and successful line of varietal wines, continues to be marketed by Laureate Imports Company in the United States under the ownership of  The Goriska Brda Wine Cellar.

Vinska Klet Goriska Brda is a 700 member co-operative and its cellar was built in 1957. Brda means “hills” in Slovenian.  They produce high quality wines as well as sparkling wines.  Their most popular wines are Bagueri, Quercus and Avia Wines.

The wines produced in the hills of western Slovenia are similar to many of the wines from Collio Italy.  Collio is the Italian word for “hills”.  The fast growing and popular varietal white wine Pinot Grigio from the Brda area is the best from that part of the world.  Avia and Quercus Pinot Grigio are growing in the USA at an incredible pace.

The Wine cellar Goriska Brda processes up to 14,000 tons of grapes annually which account for one quarter of all wines in Slovenia with certified and controlled geographic origin.

Wines are exported to the USA, Japan, European Union Countries and several other East European Countries from Goriska Brda.

The vineyards benefit from the Mediterranean climate and the warm breezes of the Adriatic Sea.  The soils are marl and sandstone and this very sunny climate is excellent for grape and fruit production.

The wines are wonderful and the countryside is absolutely beautiful.  The people of Slovenia take a great pride in their long traditions and centuries old wine making experience.

On July 19, 2004, Laureate will celebrate our 25th anniversary, and we are deeply grateful and thankful to our customers all over the United States.