Slovenian wine regions

Slovenia has three major wine regions spread across the country. Each region has its own specific wine culture, grape varieties and flavours. Each region is divided into districts.

Primorje

Primorje means ‘by the sea’. The area is located in the west of the country near the Italian border and is divided into four sub-regions: Brda, Vipavka Dolina, Kras, and Koper. The sunny vineyards benefit from the moderating influence of the Adriatic Sea, the mineral-rich soils and the burja. The burja is the strong, cool north-easterly wind that blows through the vines in spring and autumn. It keeps the soil dry, allowing only the strongest plants to thrive.

The wines from Primorje are often dry and rich in minerals, with modest acidity and subtle aromas. About half of the wines produced are red, in contrast to the other wine regions, where white wines dominate. They are made from grapes such as Pinela, Vitovska, Zelen and Ribolla.

Posavje

This Slovenian wine region is located in the southeast of Slovenia and has four districts: Dolenjska, Smarje-Virstajn, Bizeljsko-Sremic and Bela Krajina. French influences are noticeable in the wine here. Posavje is – like Bordeaux – mainly known for its cuvées. Winegrowers often operate on a small scale, stubbornly adhering to local wine traditions, which have been passed down from father to son. This benefits the quality, but at the same time it is an obstacle to export and commerce.

Podravje

The Eastern Podravje, against the border with Austria and Hungary, is a very old wine region. During Roman times, the region was already very popular. Today it is the largest Slovenian wine region with six districts: Maribor, Radgona-Kapela, Srednje Slovenske Gorice, Haloze, Ljutomer-Ormoz and Prekmurske Gorice.

According to experts, the wines are among the best in the country. German influences are visible in the grape varieties, which are comparable to the most popular grapes from the Rhine and Mosel regions. However, the warmer climate and the specific soil compositions make the wines richer and more aromatic.