Slovenia: Primorska

With a steady 8,000 ha of vines, this region has made great progress in quality since early 1990s and is today the most praised Slovenian wine region in certain quarters, having developed into an epicentre of natural and orange wine production. It is also Slovenia’s other PGI. Primorska is divided into four districts (PDOs). Goriška Brda, the continuation of Italy’s collio DOC and influenced by its Italian neighbours, boasts many good producers and is currently Slovenia’s most esteemed wine district, having begun the quest for quality as early as the late 1980s. Many of the best wines are oak-aged white and red blends based on Rebula (ribolla) and Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon respectively. The Vipavska Dolina (Vipava Valley) is proud of its native light, crisp Zelen and flashier Pinela. Kras (Carso), a plateau above Trieste, is the home of Teran, a distinctive, highly popular and highly acidic dark red made from Refošk (refosco) grapes. Slovenska Istra on the Slovenian coast is the warmest district in the country. The most planted Slovenian red wine grape Refošk and the white Malvazija (malvasia istriana) prevail. In Primorska, some great sweet wines are made in passito style. Other sweet wines are typically made from Rumeni Muškat. Sweet Verduc (verduzzo) and Pikolit (picolit) are specialities of Brda. Also grown in Primorska are Rumeni Muškat, Beli Pinot, Laški Rizling, Vitovska Grganja, Klarnica, Glera, Cabernet Franc, Barbera, Syrah, Cipro (possibly mavro), and Maločrn.