SLOVENIA

Yes! Slovenia is actually a major player in the wine industry, despite the small size and relative obscurity of the country. I mean, it’s right next door to Italy so this really shouldn’t shock anyone.

Wine has been produced here since the BCE times but only recently has Slovenian wine received the recognition it deserves. (Fun Fact: Slovenia is home to the oldest grapevine in the world, and it still bears fruit even after 450 years! You can find it in downtown Maribor, Slovenia’s second largest city.)

Wine making in Slovenia existed long before the Romans introduced winemaking to France, Germany and Spain; since the time of the Celts and Illyrian tribes. It's no wonder then that Slovenia has such a rich wine making history and in excess of 28,000 wineries, producing upward of 80 million litres of wine annually from its 22,300 hectares of vineyards.

The vast majority of wine produced in Slovenia (about 70%) is white wine—things like Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, and a local variety called Rebula (ribolla in Italy). Most of the white wines produced in Slovenia are sweet, crisp, and almost citrussy in how refreshing they are. Me likey. Slovenia is also known for its ‘orange wine’ which has become the official 4th wine type after red, white, and rosé.

Andrew Walker of Solaris Wines, an expert on Romanian and Slovenian wines will be co-presenting this most fabulous tasting, alongside our own wine expert, Cecile Bergart of the Hampshire Wine School. Wines tasted on the night will be available to buy in the UK via Andrew.