Page 116 - Terčelj, Dušan. 2015. The Culture of Wine in Slovenia. Edited by Aleš Gačnik. University of Primorska Press, Koper.
P. 116
he Culture of Wine in Slovenia
sulphur in the making of Teran, but in spite of this, the wine never oxidises. Nowadays,
a low dose of sulphurisation is recommended, only for a feeling of safety rather than
from a real need. The poet Oton Župančič very fittingly described the Slovene (drinking)
character with the words “My soul is merry, as if it had been drinking Kraški Teran.”
Merlot
comes from Bordeaux in France and is a moderately early variety with a high yield,
which ripens well and gives full-bodied, ruby red wines with a high extract. Its aroma
of ripe fruit is unique and almost too aggressive, as it lacks finesse. It produces excellent
full-bodied wines. If we blend it with Cabernet Sauvignon, we enrich the aroma. It is
suitable for ageing, in particular as ripened grapes produce sweet tannins that quickly
ripen further.
Cabernet Sauvignon
is another French variety from Bordeaux: it is the main variety out of the highly acclaimed
quality wines from this area. In comparison to Merlot, this variety ripens slightly later
and produces wines with higher acids. The wine is fairly full-bodied, with a high-extract;
its main good point is expressed in its aroma. With ageing, tertiary aromas are developed,
reminiscent of forest soil, peppers and even tobacco. The variety preserves its bouquet
in various natural environments and is therefore – like Chardonnay – the main variety
grown in countries outside Europe, i.e. in the New World.
Syrah
originates in Persia and is now spreading via France to all the warm winegrowing regions
of the world, including Primorska. If it produces a small yield and succeeds in dry warm
soil, it gives exceptionally full-bodied, extract wine. In rich soil and with a higher yield,
wine of average quality is obtained. As a young wine it has a fairly neutral aroma, but
with ageing it develops excellent tertiary aromas.
Barbera
originates in Piedmont in Italy, from where it came to the Vipava area. With a small
yield, the wine is a fairly full-bodied, high quality, ruby red with a violet hue, with
a pronounced level of acidity and thus to Slovenes more drinkable. If a high yield is
produced, the wine is less full, of a lighter red and worse quality. After the initial success
in the Vipava area, the variety quickly started spreading around the whole of Primorska,
but with the high yields enthusiasm soon waned.
Modri Pinot (Pinot Noir)
has already been described under the winegrowing region of Podravje, from where
this variety has in recent years spread to Primorska. It is a northern variety, which in
Primorska gives fuller wines with higher alcohol content and more colour, but which
lacks the refined bouquet.
112
sulphur in the making of Teran, but in spite of this, the wine never oxidises. Nowadays,
a low dose of sulphurisation is recommended, only for a feeling of safety rather than
from a real need. The poet Oton Župančič very fittingly described the Slovene (drinking)
character with the words “My soul is merry, as if it had been drinking Kraški Teran.”
Merlot
comes from Bordeaux in France and is a moderately early variety with a high yield,
which ripens well and gives full-bodied, ruby red wines with a high extract. Its aroma
of ripe fruit is unique and almost too aggressive, as it lacks finesse. It produces excellent
full-bodied wines. If we blend it with Cabernet Sauvignon, we enrich the aroma. It is
suitable for ageing, in particular as ripened grapes produce sweet tannins that quickly
ripen further.
Cabernet Sauvignon
is another French variety from Bordeaux: it is the main variety out of the highly acclaimed
quality wines from this area. In comparison to Merlot, this variety ripens slightly later
and produces wines with higher acids. The wine is fairly full-bodied, with a high-extract;
its main good point is expressed in its aroma. With ageing, tertiary aromas are developed,
reminiscent of forest soil, peppers and even tobacco. The variety preserves its bouquet
in various natural environments and is therefore – like Chardonnay – the main variety
grown in countries outside Europe, i.e. in the New World.
Syrah
originates in Persia and is now spreading via France to all the warm winegrowing regions
of the world, including Primorska. If it produces a small yield and succeeds in dry warm
soil, it gives exceptionally full-bodied, extract wine. In rich soil and with a higher yield,
wine of average quality is obtained. As a young wine it has a fairly neutral aroma, but
with ageing it develops excellent tertiary aromas.
Barbera
originates in Piedmont in Italy, from where it came to the Vipava area. With a small
yield, the wine is a fairly full-bodied, high quality, ruby red with a violet hue, with
a pronounced level of acidity and thus to Slovenes more drinkable. If a high yield is
produced, the wine is less full, of a lighter red and worse quality. After the initial success
in the Vipava area, the variety quickly started spreading around the whole of Primorska,
but with the high yields enthusiasm soon waned.
Modri Pinot (Pinot Noir)
has already been described under the winegrowing region of Podravje, from where
this variety has in recent years spread to Primorska. It is a northern variety, which in
Primorska gives fuller wines with higher alcohol content and more colour, but which
lacks the refined bouquet.
112
