Slovakia a small country with great wines, states Agriculture Minister

Slovakia is a small country with great wines, stated Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Gabriela Matečná (SNS) at a briefing in Bratislava on Tuesday with general director of the International Organisation of Vines and Wine (OIV) Jean-Marie Aurand in attendance. "The wine sector is a segment that I like to promote abroad. I have to say that if only all agriculture segments were as successful as our vine growers and winemakers, who have already won 480 medals...," said Matečná. According to the Slovak agriculture minister, soil, climatic and regional conditions predestined Slovakia to produce quality wines. "Slovakia is becoming a known player on the world market for the quality of not only its white but also its red wines," she said. Aurand pointed out that there's a lot that Slovak wine production can build on. "Thousands of years have passed since wine-growing emerged in Slovakia. Your vineyards can build on the fantastic character of the particular area as well as on the skills of winegrowers and winemakers," said the OIV general director.