Slovenia is a beautiful little country bordered by Italy, Croatia, Austria, and Hungry. We joke that they have some of the best pieces of each of their neighbors: incredible food and wine like Italy, beautiful alpine towns and breathtaking landscapes like Austria, pretty coastline and landscapes like Croatia, and a beautiful capital like Hungary. There is something truly special about Slovenia, and it's a shame that more is not shared about this lovely little country that's home to much fantastic wine.
History of Slovenian wine
Winemaking in Slovenia predates the Romans. Slovenian winemaking dates back to the 5th and 4th century BC. The Romans started cultivating grapes in Slovenia in the 1st century BC. The Romans influenced wine all across Europe, including some of the most famous wine-growing countries, such as France and Spain. For a small country, Slovenia has a lot of different types of landscapes, which has led to a lot of diversity of wines. Temperature, altitude, rainfall, and soil type can all impact how the end wine tastes.
Slovenian wine regions overview
The three main Slovenian wine regions are Primorska, Posavje, and Podravska. The climate and soil type vary in each of these regions. For example, In Primorska, coastal vineyards are known for their red wines. Posavje has a hilly terrain and is known for a wide range of wines, from crisp whites to full-bodied reds. Podravska, located in the northeast, is known for its white wines like Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc, but there are also some great reds from this region.
Trends in Slovenian Winemaking
Slovenia has close to 28,000 registered wineries. Many are small and family-run. Slovenian winemaking is very traditional. Many vineyards handpick their grapes and age the wine in oak. What surprised me during my trips to Slovenia was how many vineyards have sustainable practices compared to what I'm used to seeing in the US. Many vineyards are organic, biodynamic, or produce wines with low amounts of chemicals and additives. The style of wines is also changing. Historically, some wines ranged on the sweeter side, but many winemakers are making fantastic dry wines.
Wine Tourism in Slovenia
The best way to learn about Slovenian wine is to visit! I recommend spending time in the idyllic capital, Ljublijana, before going to the vineyards. Some of my favorite areas to visit are around Maribor, Jeruzalem, Istria, and Vipava. The Slovenian Tourism Board puts out some great resources on wine regions and travel ideas within the country.
You can start your Slovenian wine journey today by trying our Cha Cha Cha Red Blend and Out of Office White Blend. Both wines are made by family-run vineyards in Slovenia and are excellent examples of the quality of Slovenian wines.
