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Stories from Slovenia

Slovenia’s best wine stories and experiences

Learn about the wine culture of Slovenia in the most special ways.

The main theme is wine

Slovenia is proud to have three wine regions, where grapes are grown that give Slovenian wines their refined flavours. Wine is also at the very centre of many stories and experiences that either bring you closer to Slovenian wine-making and its wine tradition or reflect modern trends and innovation. Quite a few events and festivals around Slovenia are devoted to wine, and the most exciting time is autumn, the time for harvests and later also St Martin’s Day celebrations. Discover some of the most interesting stories and experiences related to wine, which you just cannot miss.

St Martin's Day – an autumn wine festival not to be missed

The most important winegrowers’ and winemakers’ event is St Martin's Day, when the must turns to new wine. In the days around St Martin’s Day, which takes place on 11 November, Slovenia is the scene of a number of celebrations where new wine is served along with the traditional St Martin’s Day menu, consisting of roast goose or duck, stewed red cabbage and mlinci (a thin dried flatbread). Winegrowing areas also host larger St Martin’s Day celebrations with rich musical and accompanying programmes. So mark your calendars and come to Slovenia in November to celebrate the new wine harvest with locals.

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The queen of all grapevines

As you walk through Lent, the old part of the city of Maribor, beside the River Drava, you will encounter the oldest grapevine in the world. The Žametovka vine, i.e. Blauer Kölner, has weathered every storm for four centuries and now proudly greets visitors. This is the only plant with its own museum in the Old Vine House, and it even has its own anthem. Exciting things happen around this vine at many traditional events and festivals.

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untouched by light_slovenian unique experience

Sparkling wine untouched by light

You may have had the opportunity to taste wine in the dark, where your taste buds become even more sensitive. But you have probably never tasted a wine produced in total darkness. It is therefore high time you experienced the star of the Radgona sparkling wines. The Untouched by Light line is a sparkling wine that has literally never seen a ray of light. Even the grapes for this sparkling wine are harvested at night. And you will taste it in total darkness.

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rock'n'roll okusov_degustacija vina_slovenian unique experience

The Maribor Rock’n’Roll with wine tasting

Accompanied by excellent wines and flavours, you will discover music from the days when Maribor was the capital of Slovenian rock 'n' roll. Taste a glass of sparkling wine from the oldest grapevine in the world, which is served as an aperitif, and listen to a piece of Rock music that every Slovenian is familiar with. The pleasure wine bar hides up to 70 varieties of excellent local wines, including boutique bottles from a winemaker who listens to a new rock album with every vintage. These are just a few (wine) glimpses of the music and culinary tour of Rock’n’Roll Maribor.

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Experiences among the vines

Come, stay, have a look around and try the local wines among the vineyards! Experience unforgettable moments in the unique ambience of the grapevines.

Holidays in a vineyard cottage

Get away from the hustle and bustle to green vineyards. treat yourselves to a break in a vineyard cottage where you can enjoy in tranquillity and nature. Indulge in a book in front of the house or take a walk among the vines.

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Holidays in a vineyard cottage

Holidays in a vineyard cottage

Get away from the hustle and bustle to green vineyards. treat yourselves to a break in a vineyard cottage where you can enjoy in tranquillity and nature. Indulge in a book in front of the house or take a walk among the vines.

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Along the path of the most beautiful wine stories to the Oldest Vine

Along the path of the most beautiful wine stories to the Oldest Vine

Maribor’s surroundings are adorned with vast vineyards, which hide beautiful spots, such as the heart-shaped road in the Svečinske Gorice hills. A sommelier will help you discover the wines of the Štajerska region that pair perfectly with local cuisine. You will visit one of the largest and oldest classical wine cellars in Europe and finish your tour at the Oldest Vine House, home to more than just the oldest vine in the world. Live through its 450 years of history with special VR glasses.

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Intiniti Wine Bliss mindful experience with stories from Brda

Intiniti Wine Bliss mindful experience with stories from Brda

Experience Brda through a guided mindfulness practice and learn about the entire annual cycle of the vine and Motnik wine in a slightly different way. Welcome to an inspiring experience where you will learn the stories of Brda with all your senses and take a trip to your very self.

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Wine safari in Brda

Wine safari in Brda

Do you have a sense of adventure? Embark on a unique safari, where you will not encounter any exotic animals, but off-roaders will take you on narrow paths through vineyards, orchards, and olive groves. You will also make short stops to taste excellent wines and other specialities from the Brda Hills.

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Visit to the repnice cellars

Visit to the repnice cellars

While in the Posavje region, be sure to visit the typical repnice (pronounce rep-nee-tzeh) turnip caves. These are special caves that were once used to store food, mainly turnips, but most of them have been converted into pleasant wine cellars.

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vinske kleti

A visit to a wine cellar

No matter which wine region you visit, the local people will always offer you their wine, of which they are particularly proud. This could be Refošk from Istria, Karst Teran, Vipava Zelen or Pinela, Metliška Črnina from Bela Krajina, Cviček from Dolenjska, or any other wine variety. No matter where you go, you will always be able to enjoy some good local food with your glass of wine. We highly recommend that you visit the most well-known wine cellars.

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A boutique wine estate worth a visit

Slovenia can boast of several excellent winemakers who aim to create the finest wines. Learn some of the amazing boutique wine stories of Slovenian winemakers.

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Puklavec Family Wines

Puklavec Family Wines

The vision of the Puklavec family’s wine story is to create the finest wines together. And to a remarkable degree they are succeeding. You can taste their award-winning wines that grow in the heart of the picturesque Ljutomer-Ormož hills in the more...

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Vina Ducal

Vina Ducal

Visit this wine cellar sitting amongst lovely vineyards, where tradition meets modernity. The heart of the building is the more than one-hundred-year-old wine cellar, surrounded by modern spaces. Try the top-quality organic wines and sparkling wines...

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Rouna

Rouna

At the Rouna Estate in the village of Slap in the beautiful Vipava Valley they follow the traditions and knowledge of generations. They produce wines typical of this part of Slovenia, such as Zelen and Pinela. 

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Edi Simčič

Edi Simčič

“Nature only speaks to those who know how to listen,” is the motto of the Simčič family, which has been fully committed to producing top-quality wine for three generations. Part of the estate includes the elegant modern Alma Vista villa, designed to...

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Marof

Marof

The beautiful sun-splashed slopes of the Goričko hills are the home of Marof wines, made with boldness, patience, and most of all in harmony with nature. The noble taste of the wine is complemented by the aromas of Prekmurje regional specialities wafting...

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Klinec Medana

Klinec Medana

The poetic landscape of Medana once inspired the Slovene poet Alojz Gradnik, and now serves as the inspiration for the wine and cultural experiences of the Klinec family, who even put on their own music festival during the summer.

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Brič Estate

Brič Estate

The noble tastes of the Brič wines are created in the unspoiled valley of the Dragonja River. You can try them in a modern design wine cellar, or enjoy a glass of wine with a luxurious view of the Slovenian coastline.

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Doppler House of Wine

Doppler House of Wine

Among the hills of Šentilj and the Pesnica valley you will find the modern Doppler House of Wine, where you can enjoy an amazing 360° view of the sprawling vineyards while tasting the house wines. Experience the tradition and love of vineyards and wine,...

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Guerilla

Guerilla

Enter the world of biodynamic wines from the Vipava Valley, where Zmagoslav Petrič follows nature’s instructions for producing wine and cultivates his own local grape variety. Try his wine in a modern wine cellar and spend the night in a modern apartment.

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Dveri Pax

Dveri Pax

In the vaulted cellar of the Jareninski Castle, known for its tradition of old monastery cellars, you can taste the top-flight wines made from hand-picked grapes. Along with the dry wines with longer maturation period, you can also try excellent superior...

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Vina Valdhuber

Vina Valdhuber

Take a quick break amongst the vineyards in the modern Valdhuber tourist farm. The noble tastes of its excellent wines are produced in its cellar, and make a perfect complement to the homely tastes of the farmstead.

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Vino Gaube

Vino Gaube

Right where the road forms the shape of a heart amongst the vineyards, experience the wine story of the Gaube family. In addition to wine they serve excellent food, which has earned them a mention in the famous Gault & Millau restaurant guide.

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Sustainable wine – a drop of unspoiled nature in your glass

Taste the noble wines that reflect the harmony of man and nature. Slovenian sustainable wines are produced with a great deal of responsibility towards nature. The vineyards are part of the natural ecosystem, and the winemakers use only natural substances to cultivate their grapes. The guiding principle is to keep human interference to a minimum in both the vineyard and the cellar.

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biodinamicna vina

Inspiring stories about biodynamic winemakers

Slovenia has many excellent winemakers who have won acclaim and renown for their wines both at home and abroad. More and more boutique winemakers are choosing to produce biodynamic wines since most of the 'work' is done by nature itself. Discover some inspiring stories from Slovenian winemakers, who put their soul, great care, effort and love into their wines.

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A special kind of wine tasting

In addition to visiting wine cellars, tourist farms, and winemakers, you can also experience the refined flavours of Slovenian wines in a completely different way.

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Wine tasting in the dark tunnels beneath Ptuj Castle

Wine tasting in the dark tunnels beneath Ptuj Castle

Tasting wine and beer in the dark has a special effect, as the taste buds perceive the flavours even more strongly. Find out at a tasting in the tunnels under Ptuj Castle.

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Interactive wine tasting in ancient wine cellars

Interactive wine tasting in ancient wine cellars

Get to know the flavours of seven premium Slovenian wines from different wine-growing regions. Try to recognise each flavour with your eyes closed and take on some other challenges that turn a wine tasting into a fun experience. Go on an unforgettable...

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A journey through the town of a thousand years of wine culture

A journey through the town of a thousand years of wine culture

Embark on a unique gastronomic journey, where you will discover the wine stories of Slovenia's oldest town together with a local guide.

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A visit to Slovenian winemakers

A visit to Slovenian winemakers

Get to know the path from grape to wine with boutique Slovenian winemakers. Take a walk around their vineyards and try some wines in family wine cellars.

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Wine from the castle vineyard

Wine from the castle vineyard

Did you know that in Sevnica you can taste wine from a castle vineyard? Five hundred Blue Franconian vines have been planted on the fortified terraces below Sevnica Castle. The grapes are used to produce special castle wine called Castle Blood, which...

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Wine-related events all year round

Good wine is the pride of every wine-maker. And they want to share the joy that they feel when enjoying a glass of fine wine. This is why you can visit wine festivals and holidays in Slovenia in all seasons, and even enjoy some other local delicacies too. However, autumn is the most exciting time, as it brings a new harvest of grapes and new wine.

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Wine festivals and events

Wine receives a lot of attention in Slovenia. This is also evident due to the numerous festivals and events at which wine often plays the leading role. Sometimes, you can also enjoy other culinary treasures from a particular area and much more.

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Harvest time

As the summer comes to an end and autumn is just around the corner, vineyards come to life. Ripe grapes invite us to harvest, and the hard work of grape pickers is accompanied by joyous singing celebrating the new harvest.

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St Martin's Day celebrations

The most widespread celebration of wine and the culture of wine in Slovenia is the celebration of St Martin's Day. This is when St Martin is said to transform must to wine. In addition to young wine, a traditional St Martin’s feast is a must during this time.  

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Osmice wine bars

Follow the trail of ivy branches and visit ‘wine bars’ called osmice – these are occasional wine bars in the Primorska wine-growing region that have a tradition dating back more than two hundred years. Local residents will not only serve you wine, but will also gladly offer you a slice of wind-dried ham (pršut), pancetta, home-made bread, štruklji (dumplings filled with curd cheese), strudels, and other delicious delicacies.

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