Page 154 - Terčelj, Dušan. 2015. The Culture of Wine in Slovenia. Edited by Aleš Gačnik. University of Primorska Press, Koper.
P. 154
he Culture of Wine in Slovenia
Open days at wine cellars
On a certain day or a number of days each year winemakers in a certain region organise
open days when they welcome visitors and show them around their farms and wine cellars.
Everyone can either on their own or with a guide travel from cellar to cellar, where the
hosts make sure that their visitors try all of their wines and talk to them. Everyone can ask
anything they wish to know about winemaking. Winemakers also collect assessments and
comments. Usually, they also lay on some snacks to help the wine tasting along.
Winegrowers usually register their open days around St. Martin’s Day so as to combine
these consumer visits with the celebration of young wine. The best-organised open days
are in the Vipava area, where there are 27 winegrowing villages. The Development Agency
in Ajdovščina takes a great deal of credit for this. Every Saturday and Sunday in November
and December there are open days in individual villages. The schedule can be obtained
from the agency in Ajdovščina or from its website.
Vineyards in the upper Vipava Valley. Slap near Vipava, 2006. Photo: Staša Cafuta.
Smaller winegrowers who do not bottle their wine themselves are also interested in such
organised viewings. I think that open days are beneficial and pleasant events in villages,
both for winemakers and visitors. When I have visited villages on this day, I have received
a very good impression. Together with other visitors, I tasted wines and talked to the
winemakers. I never saw any excess drinking. The conversation revolved around the wine
being tasted and its characteristics, the problems winemakers face and the description of
methods which differ from one cellar to another.
150
Open days at wine cellars
On a certain day or a number of days each year winemakers in a certain region organise
open days when they welcome visitors and show them around their farms and wine cellars.
Everyone can either on their own or with a guide travel from cellar to cellar, where the
hosts make sure that their visitors try all of their wines and talk to them. Everyone can ask
anything they wish to know about winemaking. Winemakers also collect assessments and
comments. Usually, they also lay on some snacks to help the wine tasting along.
Winegrowers usually register their open days around St. Martin’s Day so as to combine
these consumer visits with the celebration of young wine. The best-organised open days
are in the Vipava area, where there are 27 winegrowing villages. The Development Agency
in Ajdovščina takes a great deal of credit for this. Every Saturday and Sunday in November
and December there are open days in individual villages. The schedule can be obtained
from the agency in Ajdovščina or from its website.
Vineyards in the upper Vipava Valley. Slap near Vipava, 2006. Photo: Staša Cafuta.
Smaller winegrowers who do not bottle their wine themselves are also interested in such
organised viewings. I think that open days are beneficial and pleasant events in villages,
both for winemakers and visitors. When I have visited villages on this day, I have received
a very good impression. Together with other visitors, I tasted wines and talked to the
winemakers. I never saw any excess drinking. The conversation revolved around the wine
being tasted and its characteristics, the problems winemakers face and the description of
methods which differ from one cellar to another.
150
