For wine lovers, Slovenia is not a particularly fancy word. Next to France, Italy or Spain, it simply doesn’t shine as brightly. However, the country’s reputation as a well established wine region may be on the rise. In fact, Slovenia has an impressively long tradition of wine making and many critics have already focused their attention on this promising region. Some already compare Slovenia to Burgundy.
Those who devote their holiday to wine tasting will adore Slovenia. There are no truly huge wine producers here, the thirsty travelers will mostly come across small, family-owned businesses and a very welcoming attitude of locals.
There are hundreds of pleasant regions which are more than inviting. The country’s diverse geography creates a variety of microclimates. Goriska Brda and Vipava valley are among the most famous wine growing areas. Primorska has a very visible Mediterranean influence, and many vineyards are located on the foothills of Julian and Karavanke Alps. Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Sauvignon belong to the most frequent kinds being grown.
What makes a trip here well worth the money spent, is the local cuisine. There are a great number of culinary surprises waiting for each tourist. Specialized tourist companies such as Adventure Slovenia have been established which now offer a ‘gourmet tour’ which will take the tourists through various regions, while offering the best of local cuisine there is. The tours explore the city of Ptuj, Maribor, where the wine-producing tradition has the deepest roots, Piran – serving infamous fish-delicacies, and the final stop is Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia.
It is a matter of time, before the wine industry becomes truly established here – so far, its potential seems great and the tourists are thrilled to visit this wonderful country.
