A thousand-year-old presence
Wine is part of Slovenia's ancient history. The first archaeological evidence of this is the discovery of the Vaska situla (4th century BC), a sculpted bronze vase found at the Hallstatt archaeological site in Vače. This wine-growing tradition continued and grew considerably during the Roman period, with the development of a major wine-growing region to the east of the territory. In the 1st century AD, Tacitus spoke highly of the wine produced in the Poetovio (now Ptuj) region. Slavic and Magyar invasions marked the inexorable decline of this economic activity between the 6th and 12th centuries. The completion of the Christianization of the region marked the revival of winegrowing, which was closely linked to the smooth running of religious services. From then on, the Slovenian territory was exploited in its entirety for the climatic diversity it represented, enabling the promotion of a large number of grape varieties. Slovenian viticulture will play a minor but significant role in promoting a protonational identity, as a symbol of local pride. The oldest vineyard in the world, located in Maribor and dating back to the 16th century, is certainly still the best-known entry point for discovering Slovenian vineyards. It is spread over three main regions and produces some 52 grape varieties.
The Primorska Valley: between Istrian softness and Mediterranean character
This wine-growing region is surprisingly small. Oscillating between coastal areas and vast hills, the region boasts some 8,000 ha of vineyards. Most of the wines are red, with a powerful mouthfeel. In fact, this territory can be considered the extension of Friulian wine from neighboring Italy. The most emblematic of these is undoubtedly the refosk, a tannic wine with hints of wild berries and slightly acidic brown hues. It's affordable, with good bottles available for around €10.
The Vipava terroir - a third of the region's production - is located in a geographical area that is both forested and rocky. Its light soul and fruity inspiration are almost instantaneous on the palate. A must-taste is pinela, a white wine with a straw-yellow color, fruity and floral notes, albeit relatively mineral - or zelen, a thousand-year-old appellation, drunk young and made from barely ripe grapes, as its Slovenian name suggests, with herbaceous notes. Here, too, bottles are available at affordable prices, with an average cost of around ten euros. The towns of Vipava andAjdovščina offer numerous wine shops, wine bars and wineries.
Aside from refosk, Istra's vineyards abound with excellent white wines, preferably to be drunk relatively young, such as malvajiza with its pronounced fruity notes, or the drier but well-balanced chardonnay. Prices are also quite reasonable.
The vineyards of Goriska Brda are undoubtedly the most complete in terms of grape varieties: pinot gris, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay and more. Its Mediterranean climate, hilly structure and abundant fruit production all contribute to this Tuscan-style abundance. This is one of our favorites, one of those places where the harmony of nature blends with the local identity. Trust us, you can visit the producers we've selected between Dobrovo and Nova Gorica with your eyes closed!
Let's notforget to mention the wine of the karst region, particularly rich in iron, which gives the deeply tannic taste to the famous teran, whose appellation remains disputed today with Croatia.
The valley of the Drava (Podravje): an ancient and renowned know-how
Situated in the east of the country, the Drave Valley has always been an important wine-growing area, with ancient episodes reported on several occasions. With around 13,000 hectares of vines, it specializes in the production of white wines with a strong character. The particularity of its Pannonian climate, marked by hot, dry summers and cold winters, gives it a rare elegance. Sparkling wines also play a key role here.
The Stajerska region - which accounts for 95% of the region's total production - is German-inspired in the sense that Riesling and its various variants are clearly in the majority. However, the vineyards that make up this region add nuances that give the valley a certain complexity and rarity. The vineyards of Maribor produce an aromatic white wine. The Haloze vineyard specializes in more floral compositions, which age quite well. But the place you shouldn't overlook is on the eastern edge of the country. The Ljutomer-Ormoz vineyards - a mere 2,000 ha - are a little paradise on earth for lovers of top-quality sweet wines. Ljutomer is the gateway. The environment is most peaceful, and the know-how has been passed down from generation to generation. The same inspiration can be found in Srednje Slovenske Gorice, although the wines here are more confidential. Finally, the semi-mountainous climate of Radgonsko-kapelske gives a powerful aroma to the famous Muscat. In terms of price, bottles are a little more expensive, but not outrageously so. Expect to pay around 15 euros for a good aging wine.
Although Prekmurje is in very short supply, it remains one of the must-haves of Slovenian viticulture. The Goričko terroir produces white wines with an assertive personality that are now enjoying international renown. Beyond this aspect, the promotion of agritourism in the region is a real popular success.
Lastly, the Lendava region is geared towards more classic production - based around Riesling - the particularity of which lies in the vines' high exposure to the sun due to the steepness of the vineyard slopes. As a general rule, you'll want to try furmint - a white wine with a strong perfume and intense notes of summer fruits. Or try blaufrankisch - a red wine with a wild red fruit flavor, renowned for its ageing qualities. It's difficult to give a satisfactory indication of price, as there are considerable variations depending on the year and type of production. If you're in a festive mood, you'll opt for a Radgona crémant - which you'll find in all good wine shops for around a dozen euros - a sparkling ice wine much appreciated by the locals, with a surprising taste due to the ripeness of the product and its specific culture.
The valley of the Save (Posavje): a family and more ordinary production
The Save valley is located in the south of the country, close to the Croatian border. Production is just over 7,500 ha. It is focused on the marketing of table wines of little oenological interest. Beyond this problematic lack of recognition, it's worth highlighting the family nature of local production. It's not uncommon for locals to make their own wines. More concisely, Save wines are characterized by their relative sweetness and high residual sugar content.
The main distinctive feature of Posavje's vineyards lies in an elixir that arouses much debate among connoisseurs. This is cviček, a blend of white and red grape varieties that gives it a pinkish color. It is characterized by its low alcohol content - 8-10%. Long considered the wine of the destitute, it has regained strong popularity in the south of the country. On the palate, it is acidic and fresh. But it's up to you to make up your own mind, especially as the price per bottle never exceeds €5.
The Dolenjska area, with the largest number of hectares, offers red and white wines from micro-vineyards.
The Bizeljsko-Sremič area is not really renowned for the quality of its wines, but rather for its sparkling wine called istenič, which can be enjoyed as an aperitif. A glass never costs more than €5!
Finally, Bela Krajina is a region of rather dry red wines of the blaufrankisch or Franconian blue type.
Surprise to be noticed? Zoom on a fourth wine colour: orange wine
It's a new trend in the world of wine lovers. Produced in the border region between Italy's Friuli and Slovenia's Istria, this orange-colored wine is obtained by fermenting whole white grapes in amphorae - including the skins and seeds - and then macerating the liquid for a period of six to eight months. It's the polyphenols in the grape skins that give the wine its distinctive white color. This technique is not revolutionary, but rather ancestral. It originated in Georgia and has survived several millennia of wine production. The production method was recently classified as a Unesco World Heritage Site. Little appreciated in the 20th century, orange wine reappeared on Central European tables in the early 2000s. This dry, aromatic and intense wine is mainly produced in the Goriška Brda region of Slovenia. It is celebrated at an eponymous festival held every April in the charming town of Izola. Its new popularity has considerably inflated its price in recent years, reaching the symbolic €20 mark for a bottle.
Gain popularity to get more recognition?
Slovenian viticulture faces a major challenge: should it considerably increase its production and export share to gain in popularity and recognition, or should it continue to focus on the family adventure, even if it means risking precarious anonymity? With just under 30,000 ha of vines planted last year, the country knows that it will not be able to enter the big league with such a small quantity, corresponding to around 3.5% of the French wine-growing area for a production representing 1.8% of French output. What's more, to make matters worse, Slovenian wine exports very poorly - around 70,000 bottles a year. This is certainly due to the fierce competition on the Old Continent, but it is also due to the fact that the industry has not professionalized in time, or has not perceived the potential wealth of the Slovenian wine market abroad. There is still hope, however, in the continuing impressive quality of Slovenian wines, in the recent mobilization of the wine industry and in the growth of tourism in the country.
