Page 166 - Terčelj, Dušan. 2015. The Culture of Wine in Slovenia. Edited by Aleš Gačnik. University of Primorska Press, Koper.
P. 166
he Culture of Wine in Slovenia
VTC 4: The Istra wine route
The Slovene part of Istra is our only truly Mediterranean area. It lies below the Kras plateau
and stretches from Črni Kal to the River Dragonja. It is slightly hilly, with an altitude of
at least 100 metres above sea level. Here, the Karst landscape with its stony ground ends
and the soil consists of marl. The sea and the sun ensure that it is warm enough for the
grapevine to build up enough sugar.
On the coast, in the historically interesting towns of Koper, Izola and Piran, tourism is well-
developed. All three towns are full of artistic and historical monuments. Until the arrival
of Napoleon, who abolished the Venetian Republic, the territory was under the authority of
Aquilea and Venice. Only after Napoleon’s time did it become a part of the Austro-Hungarian
Empire and had more contact with other Slovene lands. In addition, the twenty-five years of
Italian occupation (1918-1943) also left their mark. Thus coastal towns show the influences
of the Romance culture and in central Istra
those of the Slavic culture.
The wine route does not run along the coast,
but through villages and hilly plateaux in
the hinterland, from Hubed and Hrastovlje,
across Sv. Anton, through Marezige, Škocjan,
Bertoki, Šmarje, Sv. Peter, Sečovlje and Korte.
In the Koper winegrowing region there are
many tourist farms and gourmet restaurants
along the route. The villages in the hills are
A goat as the symbol of Istra is also the symbol of
the Koper wine cellar, 2006. Photo: Aleš Gačnik.
The procession at the Refošk festival event in Marezige, 2004.
Photo: Miloš Toni.
162
VTC 4: The Istra wine route
The Slovene part of Istra is our only truly Mediterranean area. It lies below the Kras plateau
and stretches from Črni Kal to the River Dragonja. It is slightly hilly, with an altitude of
at least 100 metres above sea level. Here, the Karst landscape with its stony ground ends
and the soil consists of marl. The sea and the sun ensure that it is warm enough for the
grapevine to build up enough sugar.
On the coast, in the historically interesting towns of Koper, Izola and Piran, tourism is well-
developed. All three towns are full of artistic and historical monuments. Until the arrival
of Napoleon, who abolished the Venetian Republic, the territory was under the authority of
Aquilea and Venice. Only after Napoleon’s time did it become a part of the Austro-Hungarian
Empire and had more contact with other Slovene lands. In addition, the twenty-five years of
Italian occupation (1918-1943) also left their mark. Thus coastal towns show the influences
of the Romance culture and in central Istra
those of the Slavic culture.
The wine route does not run along the coast,
but through villages and hilly plateaux in
the hinterland, from Hubed and Hrastovlje,
across Sv. Anton, through Marezige, Škocjan,
Bertoki, Šmarje, Sv. Peter, Sečovlje and Korte.
In the Koper winegrowing region there are
many tourist farms and gourmet restaurants
along the route. The villages in the hills are
A goat as the symbol of Istra is also the symbol of
the Koper wine cellar, 2006. Photo: Aleš Gačnik.
The procession at the Refošk festival event in Marezige, 2004.
Photo: Miloš Toni.
162
