Privacy settings

Essential cookies

The website uses cookies and records anonymous statistics of visits to www.tasteslovenia.si for the purpose of improving performance.  

Statistical cookies

Do you allow us to collect anonymised data on the viewing of our content? We will improve your user experience.

I allow
I don't allow

Segmentation cookies

Do you allow us to record your activities on Slovenia.info? This would allow us to learn about your interests and offer you interesting features and content about Slovenian tourism that interest you most.

I allow
I don't allow

Advertising cookies

Do you allow us to occasionally offer you advertising content from other websites that best match your interests?

I allow
I don't allow

I allow the Slovenian Tourist Board (STO) to record and store anonymised data about my activity on www.tasteslovenia.si, which are used by the STO to provide a better user experience for visitors to the portal in the future. I also confirm that I have been acquainted with my rights related to the personal data provided.

Manager of personal data:
Slovenian Tourist Board, Dimičeva ulica 13, Ljubljana
Phone: +386 1 5898 550
E-mail: info@slovenia.info

I allow the Slovenian Tourist Board to record and store the displays of my received messages and clicks to links in the received messages with the purpose of providing me with the most high-quality and the most interesting contents for my purposes (profiling). I also confirm that I have been acquainted with my rights related to the provided personal data. Because the Slovenian Tourist Board is trying to send contents that are as high-quality as possible and as interesting to recipients as possible, it would like to measure the responses to its sent announcements. To provide better and better-focused notifications and to adjust future messages, it automatically processes, analyses, and profiles personal data, and the users’ level of interest in the announcements provided is assessed.

Manager of personal data:
Slovenian Tourist Board, Dimičeva ulica 13, Ljubljana
Phone no.: +386 1 5898 550
E-mail: info@slovenia.info

I allow the Slovenian Tourist Board to record and store the displays of my received messages and clicks to links in the received messages with the purpose of providing me with advertising contents in which I have previously expressed interest (re-marketing). I also confirm that I have been acquainted with my rights related to the provided personal data. Because the Slovenian Tourist Board is trying to show advertising contents that are as high-quality as possible and as interesting to recipients as possible, it would like to use advertisements to once again notify you concerning topics in which you have previously expressed interest. These settings apply to advertisements that are shown through the services of the company Facebook, including Facebook and Instagram, and also through online applications. If you do not agree with the recording and storing of received messages and clicks on links in the received messages with the purpose of displaying advertising contents on topics in which you have previously expressed interest (re-marketing), the same number of advertisements will still be shown, but you might not find them as interesting.

Manager of personal data:
Slovenian Tourist Board, Dimičeva ulica 13, Ljubljana
Phone no.: +386 1 5898 550
E-mail: info@slovenia.info

On grape varieties in Slovenia

 

In the land of Rebula, Furmint, Malvasia, and Blaufränkisch

Are you up for Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Pinot Noir or the Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot?

Slovenian winemakers can produce all of the foregoing perfectly. After all, we have been comfortable with international varieties Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Traminer, and Pinot Noir since 1822, when they were planted in the sample vineyard in Meranovo on the edge of Pohorje south of Maribor by Archduke John.

Foto: Sara Mikac

International or local?

International varieties are not the latest fad in Slovenia, and local varieties are on the rise.

International varieties have been in Slovenia for almost 200 years; they have adjusted to our conditions and shown regional-specific features. They are still the core of many winemakers’ production. But wine lovers’ discussions, newspaper articles, and wine lists of good Slovenian and international restaurants are increasingly pervaded by local grape varieties.
In view of the relative smallness of Slovenian vineyards, 53 permitted or recommended varieties is a lot, which may be a blessing or a curse. In this day and age, it is the former.

Wine
Photo: Tomo Jeseničnik

Slovenia’s white varieties

White varieties constitute 70 per cent of Slovenian production.

Istrian Malvasia is the first white variety of Slovenian Istria and an old variety from the Vipava Valley. It is distinguished by moderate acidity, full body, and quite an aromatic bouquet which is reminiscent of dry apricots and sage. It produces various styles of wines – fresh dry, aged in wood, orange, and sweet. It is increasingly used for premium blend in the Vipava Valley and the Brda.

The first records of Rebula date as far back as the 14th century. This almost forgotten variety was put onto a pedestal by Brda winemakers and made the queen of their vineyards, which is marked annually with an international event “Brda, Home of Rebula”. It is also an old variety from the Vipava Valley, which is becoming increasingly important. Rebula is characterised by a moderate alcohol level, high acidity, and a gentle bouquet which is reminiscent of lemon, anise, and dry spices. It embodies the terroir perfectly.

Rebula is used for sparkling wines, simpler dry wines from stainless steel barrels, varietal wines aged in wood, strong varieties with Chardonnay or other local varieties, orange wines, and wonderful sweet wines.

News with flavour

Receive information on gastronomic attractions, news, achievements and opportunities to your e-mailbox.

The ancient variety of Furmint (locally known as Šipon), the pride of Štajerska, has been keeping winegrowers and winemakers company for at least a thousand years. Good Furmint comes in particular from the hilltop village of Jeruzalem and the whole Ljutomer–Ormož sub-region, and it has also been showing great results in steep Haloze lately. It is marked by a high acidity level, lower alcohol level, and a gentle bouquet, which can smell of ripe pears when the grapes are completely ripe. When it is affected by noble rot, it may produce sweet wines which are among the best in the world.

Legend has it that Furmint got its name during the French occupation at the beginning of the 18th century. The French tasted the wine, muttering: “C’est si bon, si bon …” (“This is so good”), which the locals heard as “Sipon” (another name for Furmint) …

Furmint and Rebula are the varieties responsible for the most Slovenian platinum and gold medals, as well as regional and international trophies at the most important wine competition in the world – Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA).

At DWWA 2019, Rebula and Furmint were responsible for three out of the four best scored Slovenian wines.

Indigenous Zelén and Pinela are special wines from the Vipava Valley. After World War II, Zelén was almost extinct, but now, this variety with an exceptionally low alcohol levels, typically around 11 per cent, and the spicy character of dry Mediterranean herbs and dry apricots, has been gaining ground.

MY WAY OF
TOASTING
QUALITY.

Red varieties of Slovenian vineyards

Do you know what Refosco, Žametovka and Blaufränkisch taste like? Slovenian winemakers’ trust in them is growing.

Robust Refosco should be mentioned first among red varieties, which is responsible for almost all red wines from Slovenian Istria and the Karst, where, growing on red soil, Teran is produced from it. Its deep colour and high acidity are its main assets. Due to its robustness, most of it is drunk in the region, but if it can get 94 PP (Parker Points), we know its range is extensive.

Žametovka (also known as Žametna Črnina and Modra Kavčina) is the second most planted red variety in Slovenia. It is an ancient indigenous variety originating from Dolenjska, which gives wines with high acidity and light colours. Most of it ends up in simple local blends, such as Cviček, Metliška Črnina and red Bizeljčan. Lately, it has been acquiring a more noble role as a raw material for very good sparkling wines from Dolenjska. The oldest grape in the world, the Old Vine, is the Žametovka variety.

In November 2016, there was commotion among Slovenian winemakers. A group of German scientists announced that Blaufränkisch is highly likely a Slovenian indigenous variety and that it originates somewhere around Slovenske Konjice. Winemakers who have planted Blaufränkisch gained additional momentum. Particularly winemakers from Posavje where three quarters of this variety are planted, and the quality of wine has been notably higher since. The best specimens age in wooden barrels and have deep colours, and the bouquet is reminiscent of ripe red and black fruits, dry spices, and black pepper.

Red grapes
Photo: Vid Ponikvar, Sportida d.o.o.

Red grapes

Let us mention local special specialties which are not (yet) particularly popular. Neutral Kraljevina remains the basis of Cviček and white wine from Bela krajina. Light and delicate wines are produced from indigenous Ranina in Štajerska. Due to its extremely high acidity, Rumeni Plavec has been gaining ground as an ingredient of sparkling wines in Bizeljsko. Vitovska Grganja is increasingly popular, particularly in the Karst as orange wine. Ranfol, which used to be the most widespread variety in Štajerska, has been falling into oblivion due to its neutral character. There are only three hectares of indigenous Klarnica, which grows in the Vipava Valley, in the whole world.

Unique stories

Experience the inspiring stories of creators of Slovenian gastronomy.

The gems of the Karst: On red soil between pines and vines

Thanks to fertile Karst soil, the past and the present fused into top quality cuisine and wines.

Read more

Wine from Štajerska with a soul from Primorska

Winemaker with an exquisite sense for art, aesthetics and taste.

Read more

Two brothers, prosciutto and orange wine with a view to Goriška Brda

Whether in Medana or Plešivo, Klinec homesteads take your breath away with the view, culinary pampering and their wine.

Read more

Taste more.

Learn about the story od Slovenian gastronomy. Discover local culinary and wine specialties.

Read more