Slovenian Producer Plans Olive Grove Glamping After Ninth Straight NYIOOC Gold

The recognition we receive today confirms that persistence and respect for nature pay off over time. – Franc Morgan, Award-winning producer in Slovenia Slovenia’s olive oil trade is tiny by global standards, producing about 600 to 800 metric tons annually. Yet producers in the country’s coastal Istrian region have built an international reputation for quality. “We are few, but we are successful,” stated Jenny Morgan, who manages the century-old family estate and is recognized as Slovenia’s first officially registered professional female olive grower.

The estate sits 219 meters above sea level, overlooking the Istrian hills and the Croatian Adriatic coast. It combines organic olive oil production with visitor experiences on land cultivated by the family for more than a century. “Here in Grintovec, my grandfather Ivan cleared stones from the difficult terraced terrain and planted the first olive trees more than 100 years ago,” Morgan told reporters. Century-old dry-stone walls support the terraced olive groves at Morgan Organic Farm in Grintovec, Slovenian Istria, preserving a landscape shaped by generations of cultivation. “Dry-stone walls were built between the terraces, and today their weathered appearance is one of the first things that attracts visitors,” she added.

We wanted to make a product we could be proud of. The recognition we receive today confirms that persistence and respect for nature pay off over time.” Franc Morgan, who started restoring the family’s historic terraces and expanding its olive groves in the late 1990s, oversees cultivation at Morgan Organic Farm in Grintovec, Slovenian Istria. Morgan Cuvée is an organic blend of Istrska Belica, Leccino, Maurino, Moraiolo and Rosciola olives that the family describes as fresh, fruity and intensely flavored.

Olive growing in the region has long been shaped by climate risk. Franc Morgan recalled severe freezes in 1929, 1956 and 1985 that destroyed much of Istria’s olive-growing area.

After the 1985 freeze, the native Istrska Belica, known for its cold tolerance, became the region’s dominant variety. Going to The family, it now accounts for about 70 percent of the area’s olive trees. Its oils are now exported to Germany, Austria and Italy.

The family now wants to add eco-conscious luxury glamping units within the groves. The accommodations would allow visitors to stay among the old trees and look across the Slovenian and Croatian coastlines. Franc and Jenny’s partner, Borut, an agronomist, manages the groves and oversees agronomic work.

Silvana, Jenny’s mother, helps maintain the tasting room’s welcoming atmosphere and prepares specialties including olive liqueur and marinated table olives . Jenny oversees the business, marketing, finances and tourism strategy, while Ariana manages inventory and helps organize tastings.

By combining organic production, international recognition, direct turnover and tourism, the family is building a more resilient model for the future of olive growing in Slovenian Istria.