If you're in Slovenia for a short while, maybe for a stopover in Ljubljana on a more extensive tour, you can try Slovenian wines at restaurants or visit shops to take a bottle back to your hotel room (or home, if it's convenient). If your hunt for fabulous wines is more serious, consider taking advantage of Slovenia's many wine roads and wine cellars, where you'll get to see what Slovenian Wine is all about.
Slovenia's Wine Regions
Slovenia has three main wine regions (Primorska, Posavje, and Podravje) that are further divided into 14 smaller, distinct districts. Each region is known for producing wine of specific characteristics, so if you're exploring Slovenia for its wine, it's good to know the basics about what each region is famous for.- Primorska:This wine-producing region borders Italy and has one of the warmest climates for wine production. While white wine is mainly produced in Primorska, it is well known for the Teran red wine from grapes cultivated on the Istrian coast.
- Posavje:This region is known for its red wine. It also produces a wine that is blended from both red and white grapes known as Cviček.
- Podravje:Podravje is the largest wine region in Slovenia and is known for its sparkling white wines that are similar to champagne. Maribor, the home of the oldest wine-producing vine in the world, is located in Podravje.
Wine Production in Slovenia
Slovenia takes its wine production very seriously. All wines are graded for quality before becoming available for purchase. Slovenia produces both bulk wines and premium-grade wines.Slovenia's Wine Tourism Industry
The most famous destination of wine tourism in Slovenia is Maribor, where the Old Vine is the center of pruning and harvesting ceremonies. However, wine routes through Slovenia provide plenty of opportunity for travelers to learn about wine, sample different wines, meet wine producers, and see the vineyards where the grapes are grown. Because wine has been produced in Slovenia since before the Romans arrived, cultivating vineyards and making wine from harvested grapes has a long tradition in Slovenian culture.Dozens of wine roads cover the wine-producing regions of Slovenia, so your chosen route depends upon your preferences, convenience factors, and time available. Just one example, the Maribor wine-touris road, begins at the Old Vine and winds through neighboring areas, where the Drava River irrigates the soil. Accommodations can be made along this route; farms catering to wine tourists have rooms to stay overnight in. Wine cellars and wine shops can also be visited along this route.
Slovenian wine is considered to be among the best wines in the world, so don't miss your chance to learn about this important aspect of the country. A wine tour will show you more of the Slovenian countryside, allow you to try hard-to-find wines, and bring you face to face with the people who are responsible for tending the vines, harvesting the grapes, and bottling the juice squeezed from the fruit.
Even if you don't choose to take advantage of the benefits of a Slovenian wine tour, you can still try any of the local wines while you're visiting some of Slovenia's main destinations, even if you don't venture farther than Ljubljana! Look for local wines on restaurant drink menus and gain a new favorite. Or bring a bottle back home for yourself or a friend, which will recreate your memories of travel.
