Meet the Founders
Meet the Founders of Mare Santo Sparkling Wine
“Some dreams are meant to be anchored in the sea.”
Mare Santo is a project built on a bold idea — creating a sparkling wine shaped by innovation, heritage, and the deep Adriatic.
At the center of this vision is Igor Tomažič, a Slovenian winemaker whose respect for nature and pursuit of precision led to a completely new approach to crafting sparkling wine.
He drew from historic Slovenian traditions, old vineyard practices, and the rhythm of natural cycles to bring this concept to life.
Partnering with Ivo Boscarol, a globally recognized entrepreneur and aviation pioneer, the idea evolved further: a sparkling wine aged beneath the Adriatic Sea, where pressure, silence, and time create a character that cannot be replicated on land.
Ivo Boscarol
Mr. Ivo Boscarol is a pilot, flight instructor, five-time national champion, and a pioneer of electric aviation.
He is best known as the founder and co-owner of the Pipistrel Group, which designs and produces some of the world’s most advanced light aircraft, operating in Slovenia, Italy, and China.
Pipistrel aircraft have:
- won world championships
- circled the globe
- achieved 16 world records
As the first private aircraft producer in the Balkans, he has influenced global microlight aviation standards since the 1980s.
His achievements in Slovenia include:
9× “Most Trusted Businessman” by Readers’ Digest
Golden Order and Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Nova Gorica
Lifetime Achievement Award from Manager Association
National recognitions from the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce
“Personality of the Year” by Delo
a commemorative national stamp
Internationally, he has been recognized by Politico, Bloomberg Adria, The New Europe, the Republic of Italy, Kiddie Hawk Academy, the FAI, and the EAA.
Under his leadership, Pipistrel received the European Business Award for the most innovative company in the EU (2010), three NASA Challenge victories, and numerous national honors.
For more than 30 years, he championed accessible, energy-efficient, and low-emission aviation.
His team developed the world’s first fully electric 2-seat aircraft (Taurus Electro, 2007), the first electric 4-seat aircraft (Taurus G4, 2011), the Alpha Electro trainer (2014), and the first hydrogen fuel cell aircraft (2016).
In 2020, he achieved a historic breakthrough with the first ever type-certified electric aircraft: the Velis Electro, enabling commercial zero-emission air transport.
In 2022, Boscarol sold the majority of Pipistrel to Textron and remains President Emeritus, continuing his vision for sustainable aviation.
His €30 million philanthropic donation — the largest private donation in Slovenian history — further cemented his global reputation.
He now manages his investments through Boscarol d.o.o., focusing on high-tech, pharmaceuticals, sports, entertainment, medicine, alternative food production, hospitality, winemaking, and real estate.
He remains actively involved as a leader or co-leader in most companies, supporting start-ups with expertise and guidance.
