St. Martins celebrations in Slovenia

Vine in Slovenia has a special place in people`s hearts. They show love and devotion to it throughout the whole year, reaching the peak of attention on Saint Martin’s day on 11th November. This day is devoted to new wine and is known as the day when must turns into wine. It is accompanied by celebrations in honour of the harvest and hard work of winemakers. Visit the most famous celebrations of St. Martin’s day in Brda, Maribor, Ormož, Novo mesto, Nova Gorica, Vipava and other major wine cities and local wine cellars.

Green Slovenia embraces 14 wine-growing districts and 3 wine-growing regions: the Podravska, the Posavska and the Primorska region. Their wines vary depending on the soil, climate and human touch. Depending on the region where it matured, the same variety of grape gives completely different wine.

In the northeastern part of Slovenia there is the Podravska wine-growing region. The vine hills stretch from Prekmurje hills of Goričko in the far northeast, to Gornja Radgona in the north, Ljutomer and Ormož in the east and to Kozjansko and Celje in the south. The region is famous for its white wines, with distinctive fruity and flower aromas. A lot of sun and mild Pannonian climate create the perfect conditions for the growth of Riesling, which is the most common grape in the region. Modra frankinja or Blaufränkisch dominates among red varieties. Žametna Črnina has a special place in the Slovenian wine tradition and derives from the oldest vine in the world, which has been growing for more than 400 years in Lent in Maribor, the second largest Slovenian city. In its tribute, every year the city organizes a traditional Old Vine Festival, which ends with the biggest St. Martin’s celebration in Slovenia. Join the l baptism rite of the must, before it turns into wine on 11th November. Taste the traditional local dishes and enjoy a wine tasting of top Slovenian wines. Express symbolic gratitude for the rich harvest in the company of wine queens, representatives of the wine orders and fraternities, rafters and other visitors. The end of hard work in the vineyard and rich harvest are celebrated with St. Martin’s day in Ormož. Meet the winegrowers, who take part in the competition for the best new wine and best špricar, i.e. white wine mixed with mineral water. Celebration and entertainment in the capital of Prlekija take place from 4th to 7th November.

The Posavska wine-growing region extends to the southeast of Slovenia. It is famous for its production of lighter white and red wines. Numerous private vineyards and smaller wine cellars grow international and special local grape varieties. Local winemakers used to store their tools in wooden and stone houses at the edge of vineyards, called zidanice. Many of them are transformed into accommodation facilities where you find peace, tranquillity and enjoy your stay surrounded by vines. Wine Cviček in unique in the region and Slovenia, which is the only composed wine in the world next to Tuscany’s Chianti, which consists of red and wine grape varieties. It is protected with designation of recognized traditional denomination. St. Martin’s celebration in the Dolenjska region is unique. Visit Novo mesto and its 650 year-old history. Take a ride on the Rudolf’s raft on the river Krka in the company of the Cviček Princess. Celebrate with locals and toast with the best Cviček of the season.

The Primorska wine-growing region touches the sea and spreads along the Slovenian coastline. The sun here has a special power that reflects in the autochthonous grape varieties and exquisite wines. The most famous Slovenian red wines have found their home at Primorska. The speciality is the indigenous red wine Teran. Karst soil and wind give it a distinctive flavour and colour. White wines Zelen from Vipava and Ribolla or Rebula from Brda stand out among special wines. Experts, wine tasters and foodies gather in Šmartno at the biggest St. Martin’s celebration in Brda. Join them in wine tastings in the cellars of abandoned houses.

Welcome to celebrate the biggest wine holiday in Slovenia!

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