Predjama Castle gives birth to Erasmus sparkling wine

Published: 2.5.2011

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Predjama Castle gives birth to Erasmus sparkling wine

Postojnska jama d.d., the operator of Postojna Cave – one of the most important tourist caves in the world and one of the most visited tourist attractions in Slovenia and the Alps-Adriatic region – plans to organise a truly special event marking the birth of Erasmus sparkling wine, integrating the historical links between the Vipava Valley and the Predjama Castle.

Predjama Castle gives birth to Erasmus sparkling wine

Postojnska jama d.d., the operator of Postojna Cave – one of the most important tourist caves in the world and one of the most visited tourist attractions in Slovenia and the Alps-Adriatic region – plans to organise a truly special event marking the birth of Erasmus sparkling wine, integrating the historical links between the Vipava Valley and the Predjama Castle.

The Predjama Castle situated in Slovenia, in the vicinity of Postojna Cave, is renowned to be one of the most beautiful castles in the world. The castle, perched high up in the cliff under a natural overhanging rock and thus not easily accessible, was built in 1274. In 1570, it was renovated by the Cobenzl family and was then kept as such until the present day.

The event “The Birth of Erasmus Sparkling Wine” is based on historical facts, which link the Predjama Castle with the Vipava Valley. The Castle is where the knight Erazem of Predjama, a notorious robber baron, was cunningly killed in 1484. Prior to that, Gasper Ravbar, a baron from Trieste had been besieging the castle for several months, trying to force Erazem into surrendering, but in vain. Erazem namely knew of a secret tunnel that he used to get out of the castle and to the Vipava Valley, where he would collect fresh food and then ridicule Ravbar`s soldiers by pelting them with it.

In order for the historical link between the Predjama Castle and the Vipava Valley to come to life again, the Wine Assembly from Postojna “Erazem of Predjama” and Mr Bogdan Makovec, a winemaker from the village of Brje na Vipavskem, entered into cooperation. Only 365 bottles of the sparkling wine made from the local winegrape cultivar of Slovene origin `Klarnica` and produced by special technology were stored in the castle in February 2010 to mature there for a year. The grapes were grown and made into sparkling wine by means of a special procedure. The wine was then left in the castle for a year to mature and picking up some of the rebellious spirit that Erazem of Predjama was well known for.

The event “The Birth of Erasmus Sparkling Wine” will take place on Thursday, 26 May 2011 – starting at 9 a.m. and will follow Erazem`s route from the Vipava Valley to Predjama, which is 30 km away (where, in the medieval halls of the Predjama Castle, the degustation of the Erasmus sparkling wine will take place at 6 p.m.). The event will be held in English and will be conducted by the renowned ethnologist Prof. Dr. Janez Bogataj and sommelier Mr. Jean Pierre Skrlj (demi-finaliste du Championnat du Monde des Sommeliers 1995 – 1998) from Nice (France).

To attend, please contact igor.blazina@postojnska–jama.si.

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