ABOUT US

Pioneering a diverse import portfolio of authentic wines from Southeastern Europe, with a foundational focus in Croatia and Slovenia.

Founded in 2003 by Marko Podkubovsek and Ilya Shchukin, Vinum started as a hobby and a small side business, and slowly but surely, has become the most comprehensive US import portfolio of terroir-driven wines from Central and Southeastern Europe. The founders had no prior experience in importing and selling wine. Marko’s family in Slovenia always had vineyards and made wine for their own consumption. Consequently, he developed a love of wine and passion for Slovenian and Croatian wine cultures, which elicited the creation of this company. Years of expensive mistakes paid off as the hobby turned into a sustainable business. In 2008 Marko decided to move back to Slovenia and focus on making his own wines (Sanctum), and the import business became Ilya’s full-time job.

Currently, the wines imported by Vinum USA are distributed in over 35 states.