Slovenia is in all respects ideally suited to winemaking, its terroir, determined in part by the mix of climatic influences from the Mediterranean and the Alps. As world-renowned expert Anthony Dias Blue put it, Slovenia is a winemaking paradise. The presence of the vine in this small country on the sunny side of the Alps has been documented as far back as 2,600 years ago. At Slovenian wineries you can find gentle, fresh, aromatic whites, top predicate-quality whites, and full, hearty and recognisably sun-kissed reds. In short, Slovenia is the whole World in miniature.

About Slovenia

Slovenia is one of Europe’s youngest nations with one of its most interesting histories. It was part of the Roman Empire, was conquered by Napoleon, formed the southwestern border of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the northernmost frontier of Yugoslavia. When Yugoslavia disintegrated in 1991, Slovenia was the first republic to gain true independence, fighting a brief ten-day war before the Yugoslav army was driven off. It has been peaceful and prosperous since.

Slovenia rests at the crossroads of Western and Central Europe – north is Austria, with Italy to the west, Hungary east and Croatia to the south. A short stretch of the Adriatic Sea forms Slovenia’s picturesque, rocky coastline. The Julian Alps rise along the Italian and Austrian borders, with wooded hills and fertile fields predominating as one moves south and east, and lush valleys rolling west toward the sea.

Slovenian wine tradition

Slovenia is home to the oldest continuously producing vine in Europe – it is over four hundred years old. Under the various governments that controlled Slovenia over the years, winemaking continued. Certainly, with the influence of winemaking cultures like the Austrians and the French, it is no surprise that Slovenian vineyards have been producing high quality wines for many, many years.

This tradition has been carried on by a new generation of private winemakers that have grown with the new freedom afforded for individual enterprise under the democratic government. These wineries have drawn on the history of Slovenian winemaking and agriculture, and the methods and technology that have been developed in the great wine producing regions of the world to create their own unique styles that rival the best wines found anywhere – some wineries have won well over one hundred medals in international competition.

World record for the oldest grapevine

Slovenia holds world record for the oldest grapevine in city Maribor. It is the pride of the city and Slovenia. Stara trta (in Slovenian) is the oldest living example of a noble vine on our planet. It was planted more than 400 years ago and is a wonderful exhibit of nature’s resilience surviving a number of revolutions and two world wars.

The Old Vine is a type of žametovka or modra kavčina, one of the oldest domesticated species in Slovenia. It is located in front of the Old House of Wines at Vojašniška Ulica No. 8, which was once a restaurant, now converted into a museum of wine and an exclusive wine cellar.

Wine regions

Slovenia is a country with huge potential for wine-making. Wine experts agree that the fruits of Slovenian winelands are amongst the finest in the world – an excellent wine country. In geographical terms Slovenia has three wine-growing regions and 14 wine-growing districts.

Slovenia has three main wine regions:

– The Podravje region

– The Posavje region

– The Primorje region

Tucked into the northeastern corner of Slovenia, bordering Austria, Hungary, and Croatia, is Podravje, the largest of Slovenia’s wine-growing regions. The area was once part of an ancient sea floor, and the resulting soils are full of nutrients and minerals that make them ideal for cultivating wine grapes. The climate is typically continental, with some influence from the Alps on the western portions of the region. Summers are very hot and sometimes dry, with winters being tempered somewhat by the shield of the mountains to the north and west. Aromatic white wines predominate the region’s production, though reds have been growing in popularity with some of the local producers in recent years. The area is particularly known for late-harvest and other select quality wines.

ed as far back as 2,600 years ago. At Slovenian wineries you can find gentle, fresh, aromatic whites, top predicate-quality whites, and full, hearty and recognisably sun-kissed reds. In short, Slovenia is the Old World in miniature.

Situated in the southwestern corner of the country along the Italian border and the Adriatic Sea, Primorje’s name is taken from the Slovene phrase “by the sea.” It is blessed with a typical Mediterranean climate, with an early spring, warm, sunny summers, a short rainy season in September and October, and dry winds coming off the sea in the fall and winter. This has the effect of making the grapes ripen quickly, with low acidity, high sugar content, and strong pigments. Wines from Primorje are generally dry and rich in minerals, with reds and whites each making up about half of the region’s production.