Slovenia Wine Tours
JJ’s Slovenia Wine Tours (JSWT)
An Undiscovered Wine Paradise
‘ on the Sunny Side of the Alps’
Welcome to JSWT and do please read on about wine tours in the Pomure region in Eastern Slovenia and the surrounding areas including nearby Austria and Hungary.
About Slovene Wine
Wine has been cultivated here for some 2000 years and the oldest existing vine, some 400 years old, possibly in the world, still flourishes in the city of Maribor! Yes, it still bears grapes! Many diverse local traditions involve imbibing wine including during the ritual slaughter of a pig; blessing the wine by the priest at weddings and of course the annual partaking of the new vintage on 11 November, St Martin’s Day, not to mention several other Saints Days celebrating with wine ! Also the Slovenians have a strong tradition of using their wines to compliment the local cuisine, which in turn is influenced by those of its neighbouring countries.
Geographical Map of Slovenia Wine Region Map of
Slovenia
Click on map to enlarge
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Click on map to enlarge
There are 3 principle wine areas – PRIMORJE in the
west by the coast, POSOVJE in the south east bordering Croatia and
PODRAVJE in the north east close to Austria and Hungary where JSWT
tours goes. Grapes cultivated in PODRAVJE, mostly white, (‘still ‘
and some excellent ‘bubblies’) include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay,
Pinot Gris, laski and renski (German) riesling and sipon , a local
grape. For reds Pinot noir is also produced successfully in a few
areas, the majority of other red grapes being cultivated in the
warmer region near the coast.. Most viticulture is done by hand due
the terrain of rolling hills. The majority of wine produced is for
local consumption, (Slovenians have the doubtful reputation of being
one of the heaviest imbibers in the world at an estimated 50 litres
per capita in a year !), but the top wines win many international
awards and are beginning to be noticed in the wine world.
About JSWT
Set up by myself with a background in both Tourism and the Wine Trade, JWST offers small and friendly wine tours primarily in the loveley Prodrave region of Slovenia in the east of the country - future plans will include similar tours in Primorje and Posovje. The tours are fun, varied and through having good relationships with the local wine producers, many excellent wines, primarliy white, are waiting to be explored: so come along and experience a day of happy indulgence, bearing in mind that old Slovene proverb, "I am...Beware!"
We look forward to meeting you.
Na Zdravje!
