Discover the unique flavours of the Vipava Valley

Where different influences are blown in by the wind

Coming from the East, a traveller sees the Vipava Valley lying open in front of him. It seems caught between the tall Dinaric plateaus of Nanos and Trnovski gozd in the North, and the Vipava hills, Vipavska Brda hills, and the Karst plateau in the South.

The Valley is open towards the North-West and the Friulian plains of Italy. This is where the Mediterranean climate enters the valley, blown in by the most famous Slovenian wind, the bora, which blows from the North at extreme speeds. Here, where the wind blows in so many different influences, incredible authentic flavours can be found.

Surrounded by Zelen, Pinela and Klarnica grapevines, and the flavours of Vipava jota, šelinka and other delicious foods.

The Vipava Valley has long been famous for its excellent wines. Favourable natural conditions, tradition and hard-working wine-makers are an excellent basis for premium wine. It’s not surprising that it used to be drunk even at the imperial palace in Vienna. The largest number of autochthonous grapevine varieties in Slovenia can be found right here in the Vipava Valley. The most famous are Zelen, a local eccentric with a spicy aroma, Pinela and Klarnica, and other local varieties are also grown. Rebula, Istrian Malvasia and other more famous varieties, such as Sauvignon, are also grown on the sunlit hills.

In the kitchen, the locals swear by local ingredients and a spoonful of ingenuity. They like to prepare cold cuts with their famous dried meats, including the Vipava prosciutto and homemade šalamin, and use them to flavour the stews, which are known as mineštre around here. Mineštra is usually a thick stew with potatoes and a lot of vegetables. Many stews made from various local ingredients have traditionally been eaten in the Vipava Valley: Vipava jota, made from fermented sour turnip or sauerkraut, potatoes and beans, barley mineštra, bean mineštra, and last but not least, šelinka, with its strong celery aroma. Vegetable sauces are also characteristic of this region, and sauces made from ingredients harvested from the forest, mostly mushrooms.

A couple hours or several days?

You can explore the beauty of the Vipava Valley on your own, or join local experts who will design all kinds of experiences for everyone. Various providers are ready to pamper you with culinary delights and wine explorations.

The Zemono manor house near the town of Vipava was made for hedonism. Today, it houses the Michelin-star-awarded restaurant Gostilna pri Lojzetu. You are invited to enjoy one of the following experiences: “Gourmet enjoyment at the Zemono Manor House near Frigido”, “The Striking Zemono Manor House and its unique culinary experience”, or “The star of the Zemono Manor House lulls you to sleep in the Theodosius Forest Village”.

You can choose between several-day experiences focused completely on gastronomy, for example “Fantastic dishes and best wines of the Vipava Valley”, “Wine and food safari”, and “Weekend getaway on the biodynamic Guerila estate”. The “Sweet treasures of the lower Vipava Valley” experience sprinkles several cultural attractions between delicious tastings.

Taste perfection, fall in love with authenticity

It is hard to imagine a Vipava experience without wine tasting. You can choose between wine tasting in a wine shop, for example “Taste the uniqueness of wines from the Vipava Valley in the Vinoteka Vipava Wine Shop” and “Specialties from the Vipava Valley in the Faladur Wine Shop & Wine Bar”, or in one of the many wine cellars, such as “Biodynamic winemaking at the Guerila winegrowing estate”.

The following experiences also allow you to taste perfection: “Vipava Valley Gastronomy Tour”, “Gastronomy heritage of the two banks of the emerald River Soča”, “Unspoiled nature, a glass of wine and homemade salami” and “Visit winemakers and agritourism farms with the Winestronaut team”. You can also experience Vipava Valley on a bicycle: “Wine tour with Ride around”.

The charming Vipava Valley has rich cultural and natural heritage, and offers authentic flavours that bring in visitors from Slovenia and abroad. Once you start exploring, you will always be hungry for more.