Slovenia's Wine Roads: A Self-Drive Adventure

Slovenia has three wine regions -- Podravje, Posavje, and Primorska -- which together host more than 28,000 winemakers and produce some of the most prized wines in Europe. With a rental car, you can drive along wine roads that wind between vineyards, hills, and villages, discovering flavors you will not find anywhere else.

Primorska -- kingdom of red wines
Goriska Brda, often called the Slovenian Tuscany, is a paradise for wine lovers. Hills dotted with vineyards and olive groves hide wine cellars where you can taste world-renowned Rebula and Merlot. Visit Smartno, a fortified village on a hilltop, and stop at one of the local winemakers for a tasting. Kras offers a unique experience -- Teran, a red wine grown on the distinctive red Karst soil, is unforgettable.

Podravje -- elegance of white wines
Podravje is home to some of the most elegant white wines in Slovenia. The Ljutomer-Ormoz hills and Haloze offer a rolling landscape with vineyards stretching to the horizon. Here, Sipon (Furmint) is born, a variety with a deep tradition, along with excellent Laski and Renski Rizling. Stop at one of the zidanicas -- traditional wine houses among the vineyards -- for an authentic experience.

Posavje -- the land of Cvicek
Posavje is the smallest yet equally fascinating wine region. Here, Cvicek is born, a unique Slovenian specialty -- a light, pale red wine you will not find anywhere else in the world. A Dolenjska inn, a glass of Cvicek, and dry sausage -- this is Slovenia in its purest form. Also visit the Bizeljsko-Sremicke wine-growing hills and taste wines from repnice -- natural cellars dug into sandy ground.

Practical tips for a wine trip
When going on a wine trip, always designate a driver who will not be drinking. Slovenia has a strict policy -- the permitted blood alcohol limit is 0.5 per mille, and for drivers with less than three years of experience it is 0.0 per mille. Alternatively, arrange transport or stay overnight at one of the many tourist farms along the wine roads.

When to visit
The best time to visit wine roads is in autumn during harvest season (September-October), when vineyards are in their most beautiful colors and the atmosphere is full of energy. Spring (April-May) is also a wonderful time, when everything is in bloom and temperatures are pleasant for driving with the windows open.