From Slovenia to Whole Foods: Gönc Wines Secure National Placement After Four-Year Journey

ASHEVILLE, N.C., Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- After four years of shared tastings, stories, and a pivotal visit to Slovenia, JP Bourgeois Wine Imports is proud to announce national Whole Foods placement for three wines from Gönc Winery: Pour Some Sugar on Me Gamay, Dirty Deeds Pinot Noir, and The Little One.

The relationship started with bottles in the mail, samples, and seasonal updates that kept Whole Foods' national buying team curious. By spring 2024 at Vinitaly, Anna Vogel, National Accounts Manager for JP Bourgeois, made her move: "Come to Slovenia. Meet Peter."

They did.

Peter welcomed them to the terrace of his home-winery like old friends. Vineyards rolling out in every direction, platters of local food on the table, a neighbor's lawn mower droning somewhere down the road. Nothing staged, nothing polished. Just the kind of place where you drink what's in your glass and talk until the plates are empty.

The wines fit the moment, bold, alive, and impossible to ignore. The national buyer, a veteran in shaping Whole Foods' wine program, studied every label, tasted every bottle, and spent the 45-minute drive to dinner digging into Peter's story. By evening's end, the groundwork for a meaningful partnership had been laid.

Slovenian Wine's Global Moment

Once a well-kept Central European secret, Slovenia is stepping into the spotlight. With winemaking roots over 2,500 years old and some of the world's oldest continuously cultivated vineyards, its wines are gaining global attention for bold flavors and authentic craftsmanship. A new generation of producers is reshaping what this ancient wine country can be.

From crisp alpine whites to textured skin-contact styles and vibrant reds, Slovenia offers a vivid sense of place in every glass. Many top producers, including Peter, work naturally, ferment with wild yeast, and use minimal sulfur, crafting wines that are alive with energy and personal expression.

The placement of Gönc at Whole Foods signals the market's readiness. Peter's mix of old-world skill and modern edge is connecting with a new wave of curious, adventurous wine drinkers hungry for something real.

The Wines

• Dirty Deeds: 100% Pinot Noir aged in French oak and stainless steel. Red berries, spice, and forest floor with structure and lift.
• Pour Some Sugar on Me: 100% Gamay from a single vineyard aged in French oak and stainless steel. Lush cherry and raspberry with a smoky, mineral edge.
• The Little One: Pinot Blanc and Yellow Muscat from 35-year-old vines, aged in stainless steel on fine lees. Floral, fresh, and quietly complex, with mouthwatering acidity.

All are naturally farmed, fermented with native yeast, and bottled with minimal intervention.

"This is about more than three wines," said Bourgeois. "It's a win for Slovenian wine, for small producers, and for retailers who still believe in discovery."

More Gönc to Love

Beyond Whole Foods, JP Bourgeois offers a wider lineup of Gönc wines to boutique shops and forward-thinking restaurants nationwide. Each delivers the same creativity, character, and low-intervention swagger—perfect for drinkers chasing something unique, seriously good, and impossible to forget.

ABOUT JP BOURGEOIS
JP Bourgeois is a boutique importer championing small, terroir-driven producers across Europe. The portfolio spans France, Spain, Slovenia, and more, partnering with distributors, retailers, bars, and restaurants that value integrity, sustainability, and wines with soul.

ABOUT GÖNC WINERY
Located in Ptuj, Stajerska, Slovenia, Gönc Winery is led by Peter Gönc:  an independent winemaker known for his unconventional style, natural farming, and rock-inspired labels. His wines are vibrant, expressive, and a little rebellious.

Media Inquiries: Tracy Pell | [email protected] | 214-562-6732
Sample Requests / Wholesale Interest: JP Bourgeois | [email protected]

SOURCE JP Bourgeois Wine Imports