Page 161 - Terčelj, Dušan. 2015. The Culture of Wine in Slovenia. Edited by Aleš Gačnik. University of Primorska Press, Koper.
P. 161
Getting to know wine
VTC 2: The Vipava wine route
The Vipava Valley is a basin that lies between Mount Nanos and the Trnovski gozd plateau
in the north and the Kras plateau in the south. In the west it extends into the Friuli plain.
Along the valley there are marly hills covered in grapevines, with just a narrow band of
completely flat land in the middle along the main road. Vineyards appear on the gentler
slopes. The villages are clustered together, displaying typical Primorska architecture. The
houses are enclosed within walled yards (borjač). Beneath the houses or outhouses there
are old vaulted wine cellars, where you can still experience a romantic atmosphere as you
sample the Vipava wines, particularly Pinela and Zelen. Most winemakers sell primarily
draught wines and bottle only small quantities.
Vineyards in the upper Vipava Valley: Vipavski Križ and Slap, 2006.
Photos: Staša Cafuta.
The Vipava wine route is divided into the Upper Vipava half and Lower Vipava half. Cur-
rently, the best organised is the Upper Vipava route, mainly thanks to the Rod development
agency in the town of Ajdovščina and the agricultural advisory service, which organises
open days at winegrowing tourist farms.
A monument in Podnanos reminds us that this is the birthplace of the national hero Janko
Premrl, also known by his Partisan name Vojko, and the composer Stanko Premrl. Matija
Vertovec also lived and worked here. The village of Orehovica at the foot of the elongated
Pasji rep hill is famous for Zelen, a variety mentioned by Valvasor as producing good wine.
157
VTC 2: The Vipava wine route
The Vipava Valley is a basin that lies between Mount Nanos and the Trnovski gozd plateau
in the north and the Kras plateau in the south. In the west it extends into the Friuli plain.
Along the valley there are marly hills covered in grapevines, with just a narrow band of
completely flat land in the middle along the main road. Vineyards appear on the gentler
slopes. The villages are clustered together, displaying typical Primorska architecture. The
houses are enclosed within walled yards (borjač). Beneath the houses or outhouses there
are old vaulted wine cellars, where you can still experience a romantic atmosphere as you
sample the Vipava wines, particularly Pinela and Zelen. Most winemakers sell primarily
draught wines and bottle only small quantities.
Vineyards in the upper Vipava Valley: Vipavski Križ and Slap, 2006.
Photos: Staša Cafuta.
The Vipava wine route is divided into the Upper Vipava half and Lower Vipava half. Cur-
rently, the best organised is the Upper Vipava route, mainly thanks to the Rod development
agency in the town of Ajdovščina and the agricultural advisory service, which organises
open days at winegrowing tourist farms.
A monument in Podnanos reminds us that this is the birthplace of the national hero Janko
Premrl, also known by his Partisan name Vojko, and the composer Stanko Premrl. Matija
Vertovec also lived and worked here. The village of Orehovica at the foot of the elongated
Pasji rep hill is famous for Zelen, a variety mentioned by Valvasor as producing good wine.
157
