Page 168 - Terčelj, Dušan. 2015. The Culture of Wine in Slovenia. Edited by Aleš Gačnik. University of Primorska Press, Koper.
P. 168
he Culture of Wine in Slovenia
The Winegrowing Region
of Posavje
VTC 5: The Bela Krajina wine route
The route runs around the villages and vineyards on the sunny south side of the Gorjanci
Hills. Although the soil is poor, the climate is warm, and so full-bodied white and red wines
are produced. In contrast to previous periods, when in this area viticulture lagged behind,
during the last few decades the people of Bela Krajina have developed modern wine cellars
and improved their varietal selection. They have kept the old blended wines, in particular
Metliška Črnina, which is made from combining Modra Frankinja and Žametovka.
Muscat grapes also grow very well here, producing a harmonious wine and exceptionally
nice “predicate” wines. The centre of viticulture is in the villages around Drašiči, while the
centre of modern winemaking is the town of Metlika.
Drašiči, 2006. Photos: Staša Cafuta.
The Bela Krajina wine route starting in Metlika has three
branches. The first leads through Drašiči, Krmačina,
Vidošiči and Vinomer. In Drašiči, the biggest viticultural
centre is the only remaining “neighbourhood”, i.e.
village cooperative wine cellar, where each autumn
all the members invest some of their must into the
joint wine “fund”. They can then later, particularly in
the summer, borrow some wine if they have run out
of their own. Prior to the vine-louse epidemic such
“neighbourhoods” existed in every village, now the
one in Drašiči is the only one left, more as a tourist
164
The Winegrowing Region
of Posavje
VTC 5: The Bela Krajina wine route
The route runs around the villages and vineyards on the sunny south side of the Gorjanci
Hills. Although the soil is poor, the climate is warm, and so full-bodied white and red wines
are produced. In contrast to previous periods, when in this area viticulture lagged behind,
during the last few decades the people of Bela Krajina have developed modern wine cellars
and improved their varietal selection. They have kept the old blended wines, in particular
Metliška Črnina, which is made from combining Modra Frankinja and Žametovka.
Muscat grapes also grow very well here, producing a harmonious wine and exceptionally
nice “predicate” wines. The centre of viticulture is in the villages around Drašiči, while the
centre of modern winemaking is the town of Metlika.
Drašiči, 2006. Photos: Staša Cafuta.
The Bela Krajina wine route starting in Metlika has three
branches. The first leads through Drašiči, Krmačina,
Vidošiči and Vinomer. In Drašiči, the biggest viticultural
centre is the only remaining “neighbourhood”, i.e.
village cooperative wine cellar, where each autumn
all the members invest some of their must into the
joint wine “fund”. They can then later, particularly in
the summer, borrow some wine if they have run out
of their own. Prior to the vine-louse epidemic such
“neighbourhoods” existed in every village, now the
one in Drašiči is the only one left, more as a tourist
164
