
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

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.
