A Slovenian Star

Situated at the crossroads of Central Europe and the Mediterranean, Slovenia's viticultural heritage dates back over two millennia, tracing its roots to the Roman Empire's conquest of the region in the 1st century BC. During Roman rule, viticulture flourished in the fertile valleys along the banks of the Drava, Sava, and Mura rivers. The Romans introduced advanced winemaking techniques and cultivated indigenous grape varieties, laying the groundwork for Slovenia's wine culture.

Following the fall of the Roman Empire, monasteries played a pivotal role in preserving winemaking traditions during the Middle Ages. Monastic orders such as the Cistercians and Benedictines meticulously tended vineyards and refined winemaking methods, elevating Slovenian wines to prominence throughout Europe. By the late Middle Ages, Slovenian wine trade thrived, with merchants exporting wines to neighboring kingdoms and beyond. The Habsburg monarchy's influence further bolstered the region's viticultural reputation, as Austrian rulers recognized Slovenia's potential for producing high-quality wines.

In the aftermath of World War II, Slovenia became a part of Yugoslavia, and state-owned cooperatives dominated the wine industry. However, the country's transition to independence in 1991 heralded a new era of innovation and entrepreneurship in winemaking.

The two wines we have come from the family run Doppler winery in a region called Styria in English and Štajerska in Slovenian, the region is a land of rolling hills between the Alps and the Pannonian Plains and is part of the Podravska wine region.

The white is made from Sipon, also known as Furmint, a white grape variety primarily associated with Hungary, particularly the Tokaji region. This ancient grape has a long history, with records dating back to at least the 13th century. While it is most famous for its role in the production of Tokaji wines, it has also found a significant place in Slovenian winemaking, where it thrives in the region's continental climate and in the Pleistocene clay and carbonate rocks that make up the soils of this region.

The red is a 50/50 blend of grapes that have made Slovenia home, Blue Franc and Zweigelt. The Blue Franc grape, also known as Blaufränkisch or Lemberger, is a dark-skinned red grape variety primarily associated with Central Europe, while its exact origins are uncertain, it is believed to have originated in the area around the Austrian-Hungarian border, but has carved out a reputation for quality wines in this corner of Slovenia.

Zweigelt is actually a crossing of Blue Franc and St. Laurent which was developed by famous (in certain circles) Austrian viticulturist Dr. Fritz Zweigelt in 1922. Normally associated with Austrian winemaking, again the continental climate and diverse soils have really allowed the grape to shine.