Our winegrowing story began in 1892, when my grandfather Jožef Frelih moved to Šentrupert. He came from the Vipava Valley, bringing with him a knowledge of and passion for the vine. At that time, phylloxera was destroying vineyards across Europe. Jožef bought a ruined vineyard in Zadraga and began restoring it. He was one of the first to plant vines grafted onto American rootstock. Back then the vineyard covered 60 ares, with around 6,000 vines planted.

J. V. Valvasor had already written of Šentrupert's fine location, describing it as the warmest place in Carniola. The vineyard was a source of pride for the whole family. My father, France Frelih, took a great interest in winemaking, and was greatly helped by experts from the Grm Agricultural School in Novo Mesto, who offered him guidance based on their experience and knowledge. My father also expanded the vineyard and renovated the wine cottage, and he had plans for the future, but the Second World War put an end to them. He did, however, manage to pass on his knowledge — and above all his love of the vine — to me, and I have carried on the tradition.

White wines were in fashion at the time. All the wine we produced was sold at the local inn. Later, in Ljubljana, I met Janez Mlakar, who had 40 years of experience with the company Slovenija vino. Soon came the idea of bottling cviček, and so Cviček od fare was born. The name conveyed that this wine was among the finest — like a fine lad from the parish. The image of St. Rupert's Church in Šentrupert was chosen as the recognizable mark on the label, and it is still used today.

As interest in sparkling wines grew in the market, we created the first sparkling wine in Dolenjska – Kappelman. It was followed by Penina od fare, the better half of Cviček od fare, made from the same varieties as cviček.

In Zadraga we planted a new vineyard of Zeleni silvanec in 1993, followed by a new vineyard of Žametna črnina in 1996. We also began developing barrique wines, aged in oak barrels brought in from France, and our Modra frankinja barrique met with great success.

Frelih wines from Zadraga have always been regarded as good, which used to mean a great deal. Today that reputation is confirmed by every award earned at the wine competitions in Ljubljana and Gornja Radgona.

In 2000 we began building a new wine cellar, a project carried out by my son Peter Frelih. In 2003 the old vineyard in Zadraga was completely destroyed by hail. The following year we began replanting it, and expanded it at the same time, so that today we tend around 23,000 vines of Žametna črnina, Modra frankinja, Pinot and Zeleni silvanec on roughly five hectares. In 2006 I handed the reins of Hiša vina Frelih to my son Peter, who will add to – and indeed revive – the inn-keeping tradition alongside the 100-year history of Frelih winegrowing and winemaking.