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Stories from Slovenia

Experience the oil-making tradition in your own way

Slovenia is a land of excellent olive oil, made as a perfect mixture of the effect of the sun, great soil composition, and the Mediterranean climate You are kindly invited to embark on a journey from olive groves to oil presses known as ‘torklje’.

From an olive to oil

Once the grapes in vineyards have mostly been harvested and must is slowly turning to young wine in barrels, olive groves come to life. The olive harvesting season in places with a Mediterranean climate extends from October to November. Carefully picked olives make their way to ‘torklje’, a special oil press from which oil flows. Would you like to see the birth of fresh olive oil? Visit the Slovenian Istria, the region of Slovenia with the most olive groves. However, you can also find some in the Brda Hills, the Vipava Valley, and in the Karst. Learn about the story of Slovenian olive oil in your own way and let your taste buds verify its quality.

Sun-filled olive oils

As you explore the green inland areas of Slovenian Istria, you’ll come upon olive groves at almost every step. The area between the Adriatic Sea and the Karst Rim creates favourable conditions for the production of a very special oil – extra virgin olive oil from Slovenian Istria, which has a protected indication of origin. This oil with a distinctive bitter and spicy flavour is also very highly regarded by gourmets. However, it’s also true that every oil producer leaves their unique mark on their oil. Visit them and taste their oils accompanied by selected local dishes and wine.

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Unique experiences related to olive oil

Enjoy unique, authentic, boutique five-star experiences bearing the ‘Slovenia Unique Experience’ label. You have the opportunity to learn the entire story of how olive oil is made in a unique way. This oil is excellently paired with other gems of Istrian cuisine, including the best farmed branzino (European bass) in the world.

Join locals in harvesting olives

Would you like to learn first-hand how olives are harvested in olive groves? Join the locals and pick ripe olives manually or using a special rake that allows them to fall into spread nets. The farmers at the Tonin Tourist Farm and at the oil-producing Jerko Farm would also love some of your help. In the inland areas around Koper, you can try harvesting olives at Bočaj and Obad eco farms and at Gec farm.

Visit some other olive groves with a hint of the Mediterranean

Although the majority of olive groves are located in the Slovenian Istria, you can also find them in other areas with a Mediterranean climate. Visit oil makers in the Brda Hills, where you can find sun-kissed olive groves accompanied by vast vineyards and orchards nestled amongst picturesque villages. Vipava Valley is a valley of diverse flavours. Farmers there also produce olive oil virtually in ‘boutique’ quantities, thus reviving the oil making tradition in this valley. You can find some olive groves and oil makers in the Karst, too.

Stories from Slovenia

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ALMA Virtual Traveller
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