Page 112 - Terčelj, Dušan. 2015. The Culture of Wine in Slovenia. Edited by Aleš Gačnik. University of Primorska Press, Koper.
P. 112
he Culture of Wine in Slovenia
Grapevine varieties
in the winegrowing region of Primorska
The winegrowing region of Primorska has unique natural conditions for the cultivation of
grapes: a Mediterranean climate and marly soil, i.e. the sediments left by the sea withdrawing
to the present-day Adriatic basin. On the Kras there is red terra rossa soil. In the past, this
area was influenced by different socio-political and economic conditions from those in
Podravje and Posavje, where there was a greater German-Austrian influence. In addition, the
influence of the Mediterranean culture is reflected in the Slovene Primorje in the method
of the traditional cultivation of grapes and wine: first there was the Greek influence in
Istra, then the Roman and Venetian influence throughout the region. Right up until the
1970s old Primorska varieties, originally brought over by the Ancient Greeks and later the
Romans, were cultivated here. Thus in the Koper area, the following were mainly grown:
Refošk, Malvazija, Rumeni Muškat and Maločrn (Plavina / Negra tenera). Historical
sources tell us that Istra was off the main travel route connecting the Vipava Valley with
Friuli. In 538, the Ostrogoth military commander Cassiodorus put in writing how much
wine should be ordered for the army in Istra.30 Viticulture in Istra flourished without any
particular destruction of vineyards. There is also a document from 932, in which Koper
undertook to give 100 amphorae of wine to the Venetian doge31. In documents from 1313,
the then Venetian doge ordered how much wine must be handed over by Koper, Izola and
Piran32. There is a special mention of Rebula. In 1837 Tommassini, the bishop of Novi grad
in present-day Croatia, described in detail the history of viticulture in Istra, mentioning
the variety “Pirella”. Another author in 1823 mentioned the “Pinella” that was grown
around Koper33. Tommassini also mentioned other varieties that are no longer cultivated,
such as Cividin, Hrvatica and Tribian.
On the Kras, Refošk has always been grown for Kraški Teran wine.
It is mentioned by the Roman writer Pliny. Rebula was mentioned in
the 11th century in the Brda and later again by Santonino, Valvasor and
Vertovec. In the Vipava Valley, in addition to Rebula, Klarnica was
widespread and in the upper part of the valley Zelen and Pinela, in
addition to numerous others which are no longer grown.
Nowadays, many other varieties are grown in the Primorska region. In Klarnica
the last fifty years the following red varieties have been planted: Merlot,
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Frank and Barbera. With regard to white
varieties, in the last twenty years the high quality varieties from Podravje
have been planted, with the exception of Traminec, Renski Rizling,
Šipon and Ranina. The main varieties in this region are: Chardonnay,
Sivi Pinot (Pinot Gris) and Sauvignon. They are also reintroducing and
trying some old varieties that have almost sunk into oblivion, such as
Poljšakica, Pergolin and Klarnica.
30 Darovec, 2004, p. 257
31 Ibid., 258
32 Ibid., 280
33 Ibid., 282
108
Grapevine varieties
in the winegrowing region of Primorska
The winegrowing region of Primorska has unique natural conditions for the cultivation of
grapes: a Mediterranean climate and marly soil, i.e. the sediments left by the sea withdrawing
to the present-day Adriatic basin. On the Kras there is red terra rossa soil. In the past, this
area was influenced by different socio-political and economic conditions from those in
Podravje and Posavje, where there was a greater German-Austrian influence. In addition, the
influence of the Mediterranean culture is reflected in the Slovene Primorje in the method
of the traditional cultivation of grapes and wine: first there was the Greek influence in
Istra, then the Roman and Venetian influence throughout the region. Right up until the
1970s old Primorska varieties, originally brought over by the Ancient Greeks and later the
Romans, were cultivated here. Thus in the Koper area, the following were mainly grown:
Refošk, Malvazija, Rumeni Muškat and Maločrn (Plavina / Negra tenera). Historical
sources tell us that Istra was off the main travel route connecting the Vipava Valley with
Friuli. In 538, the Ostrogoth military commander Cassiodorus put in writing how much
wine should be ordered for the army in Istra.30 Viticulture in Istra flourished without any
particular destruction of vineyards. There is also a document from 932, in which Koper
undertook to give 100 amphorae of wine to the Venetian doge31. In documents from 1313,
the then Venetian doge ordered how much wine must be handed over by Koper, Izola and
Piran32. There is a special mention of Rebula. In 1837 Tommassini, the bishop of Novi grad
in present-day Croatia, described in detail the history of viticulture in Istra, mentioning
the variety “Pirella”. Another author in 1823 mentioned the “Pinella” that was grown
around Koper33. Tommassini also mentioned other varieties that are no longer cultivated,
such as Cividin, Hrvatica and Tribian.
On the Kras, Refošk has always been grown for Kraški Teran wine.
It is mentioned by the Roman writer Pliny. Rebula was mentioned in
the 11th century in the Brda and later again by Santonino, Valvasor and
Vertovec. In the Vipava Valley, in addition to Rebula, Klarnica was
widespread and in the upper part of the valley Zelen and Pinela, in
addition to numerous others which are no longer grown.
Nowadays, many other varieties are grown in the Primorska region. In Klarnica
the last fifty years the following red varieties have been planted: Merlot,
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Frank and Barbera. With regard to white
varieties, in the last twenty years the high quality varieties from Podravje
have been planted, with the exception of Traminec, Renski Rizling,
Šipon and Ranina. The main varieties in this region are: Chardonnay,
Sivi Pinot (Pinot Gris) and Sauvignon. They are also reintroducing and
trying some old varieties that have almost sunk into oblivion, such as
Poljšakica, Pergolin and Klarnica.
30 Darovec, 2004, p. 257
31 Ibid., 258
32 Ibid., 280
33 Ibid., 282
108
