The Republic of Slovenia (Slovenian Slovenija) with its capital Ljubljana (German Laibach) covers 20,273 km². The country borders Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the east, and Croatia to the southeast. After the end of World War II in 1945, Slovenia existed as a part-republic in socialist Yugoslavia. Following the declaration of independence in 1991 and the 10-Day War, Slovenia became an independent nation-state.
History
The first vine stock were planted about 2,400 years ago by the Celts. The Romans influenced viticulture mainly in the area of Poetovium (Ptuj = Pettau). The Roman wine author Pliny (23-79) mentioned viticulture in the Karst region and referred to these wines as an elixir of life.
During the Migration Period, viticulture came to a halt again. However, in the Middle Ages, wines were highly valued at the courts of imperial Vienna and archiepiscopal Salzburg. The Austrian Archduke John (1782-1859) owned a model vineyard near Maribor (Marburg). Even today, the influences of the historical and long association with Austria-Hungary can be felt. As in most European countries, large vineyard areas fell victim to the phylloxera in the second half of the 19th century.
Climate & Soils
The climate conditions are characterized by Alpine, continental, and Mediterranean climates. After short, heavy rain in spring, a warm summer and a long, mostly sunny autumn follow, allowing for a late harvest with quality wine. The soils are characterized by a great diversity (see under the wine-growing regions).
Wine Regions
The wine-growing areas lie in the north at the borders with Austria (Southern Styria), in the east with Hungary, and in the west with the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia. About three-quarters of the production is accounted for by white wine, about a quarter by red wine. A showcase operation and pioneer is the winery Movia. There are many small winemakers with tiny plots. Slovenia is divided into three large wine-growing region with 14 origin-protected wine-growing area.
Podravje (Drauland) with 9,650 ha
Is divided into two areas:
Stajerska Slovenija (Slovenian Styria) with 8,685 ha
- Haloze
- Ljutomer-Ormoz
- Maribor
- Ptuj-Srednje Slovenske Gorice
- Radgona-Kapela
- Smarje-Virstanj
Prekmurje with 965 ha
Posavje (Save Region) with 4,328 ha
- Bela Krajina (White Krajina) with 608 ha
- Bizeljsko Sremič with 1,264 ha
- Dolenjska with 2,456 ha
Primorska (Adriatic Coastal Region) with 8,081 ha
- Goriška Brda (Görzer Hills) with 1,992 ha
- Kras (Karst) with 753 ha
- Slovenska Istra (Slovenian Istria) with 2,331 ha
- Vipavska Dolina (Vipava Valley) with 3,005 ha
Grape Variety Overview
In 2022, the vineyards covered 14,789 hectares of vine area,...
