Slovenia: The Land of Deep Caves & Deep Sparkling Wine Flavours

Having travelled through most of Europe, both new and old, I have seen a great variety of style of wines from classic reds to vintage sparkling. Europe holds most of the world’s wine production, the biggest part of history and certainly the finest examples. The land holding the vineyards is truly wonderful and holding such magical variation that no two regions are similar and each can boast many temptations.

The greatest part of my travels was between France (where I once lived in the Burgundy region), Italy and also Slovenia. Between these three countries, I find most of my wine pleasures from not only fine sparkling wine, but also still wines. These three countries alone offer a universal depth of wine choices in style, terroir and production methods. It is very hard to pick out regions that are better than others or grapes that perform better over others or if one winemaker has the edge over another – Each example has its rightful place in the world of wine with buyers and fans globally.

Slovenia has been a more recent discovery for me, I owe thanks for this to Professor Marin Berovic, and I am still busy investigating the many sparkling wines this country offers. Many of them remain mostly unknown and very little of them readily available in the UK market.

“Today Slovenia has more than 28,000 wineries making between 80 and 90 million litres annually from the country’s 22,300 ha of vineyards.” Source Wikipedia

As much as the caves are deep and long in Slovenia, so too are their sparkling wines. In designated wine regions scattered across the country lies thousands of wine producers with many opting for at least one sparkling wine label to their range. The best sparkling red wines come from Slovenia is a quote that I would certainly agree to, I’d also say that with countless gold medals and trophies in their trophy cabinets shows that collectively Slovenian sparkling wines are doing something very good and so far, remaining still very much a secret.

Slovenian Sparkling Wines

Traditional method sparkling wines in Slovenia is where I am going to focus my attention on in this article, I wish to point out some labels that are simply liquid gold. I have visited their winery, tasted through their selections and even been spoilt with rarer vintages being shared – From my current experience, these houses hold the best expression of what this country can offer the global wine loving community.

I wish not to compare them with Champagne, neither those of their Italian neighbours, but certainly you can spot the influence of similar terroir / production methods that make some quite mistakable as being them when tasted blind.

Here below are five Slovenian sparkling wines that are quite remarkable in my books and I would certainly love to see more of in the UK market:

 

Bjana – Cuvée Prestige 2014:

Tasting notes: “Lively expression on the nose of yellow fruits, citrus, touch of roasted caramel/hazlenuts. Flavours are bold with fresh citrus, apricot, young plum, nutty/toastiness with a soft citrus length. Very elegant in style.”

 

Jožef Jazbec – Črna Penina Chateau Intanto:

Tasting notes: “Having had the pleasure of an invitation to meet the winemakers and owners at their winery, which is the greatest of pleasure and makes a real impression on you, the wine simply blew me away too to make it a most memorable occasion. Young red and blackberry fruits on the nose (despite 10 years on the lees). Served well chilled you get such a wonderful display of dark berry, plum, fig in flavours that refreshes the palate and gives a great length. Not too heavy in style, certainly not sickly as some red sparkling wines can be – It is a young, clean and fresh style holding buckets full of character!”

 

Tiefengraber – Evana:

Tasting notes: “A warm golden colouring. Dry golden syrup, green fruits, touch of tropical on the nose. Wonderful ripe yellow fruits, greengage, figs in syrup, plum in flavours. Amazing tasting experience, a real pleasure to drink.”

 

Medot – Millesime 2012:

Tasting notes: “Nose promises so many delights. Honey on toast, overripe yellow stone fruits, honeysuckle and touching on shortbread. Dry initially with soft citrus and heavy floral notes then relaxes to dry golden fruits, honeysuckle, minerals. Good balance with minerals and acidity, palate is delighted yet not over powdered.”

 

Istenič – Prestige 2013:

Tasting notes: “An almost buttery pineapple aroma with delicate yellow floral notes. Very light and fruity style. Soft citrus, yellow stone fruits, pineapple, mango and hints of orange zest. Very classic and elegant in style.”