How to Go Wine Tasting in Slovenia: 3 Really Fun Wineries (+2 More Must-Try Experiences)

While planning out our country-wide itinerary in June 2023, my friend Amanda and I knew we wanted to go wine tasting in Slovenia after reading about it being one of the most underrated wine destinations.

But, neither of us being wine aficionados (ahem, understatement) we weren’t exactly sure where to go. So, we decided to wing it. We headed out from our hotel in Maribor in search of wine and ended up having the most hilarious and unforgettable day of our whole trip. Read on to see how you can steal our wine tasting in Slovenia experiences.

*Well, second-most unforgettable actually. We can’t forget about what we refer to as “the hayfield incident” from my worst travel moments of 2023.

Wine tasting in Slovenia?

Yes! Slovenia is actually a major player in the wine industry, despite the small size and relative obscurity of the country. I mean, it’s right next door to Italy so this really shouldn’t shock anyone.

Wine has been produced here since the BCE times but only recently has Slovenian wine received the recognition it deserves. (Fun Fact: Slovenia is home to the oldest grapevine in the world, and it still bears fruit even after 450 years! You can find it in downtown Maribor, Slovenia’s second largest city.)

The vast majority of wine produced in Slovenia (about 70%) is white wine—things like Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, and a (new-to-me) variety called Rebula (ribolla in Italy). Slovenia is also known for something called ‘orange wine’ which has apparently become the official 4th wine type after red, white, and rosé.

I’m personally more a fan of red wine than white, with the exception of ultra-sweet whites like Moscato and Riesling. So, I was especially thrilled to find out Slovenia feels the same way. Most of the white wines produced in Slovenia are sweet, crisp, and almost citrusy in how refreshing they are. Me likey.

But arguably my favorite thing about wine tasting in Slovenia was how proud the Slovene winemakers are of their wine heritage. I almost felt bad about it given my bare minimum interest in all the winemaking details they were giving me, but I was absolutely entranced by their enthusiasm for sharing it.

All this came to a dramatic climax when Amanda and I entered our last winery of the day with the intention of having ONE GLASS. Instead, we were quite literally held hostage and force fed wine and cheese from the most warmhearted couple I think I’ve ever met.

Need to know: The German word for ‘winery’ is weingut. And yes, they speak German in these parts.

My Slovenia wine tasting experience

If you’ve ever read anything on this blog before, you already know I’m a bona fide beer drinker. But, I do drink wine when I travel to more wine-heavy destinations like Italy, France, and apparently Slovenia. (No worries, I drank my fair share of beer here too.)

Hearing that Maribor was surrounded by one of the country’s biggest wine regions, we knew we had to fit in some Slovenian wine tasting. I’m not a wine connoisseur by any means. (In fact, I absolutely butchered the spelling of ‘connoisseur’ before autocorrect graciously took the wheel.) So, when I go wine tasting, I do so less with the intention of actually learning about the wines and more so in the pursuit of a good time.

Ergo, take my wine tasting advice super casually. I’m all about wine tasting experiences, and not so much things like bouquets, Cuvees, and other words I just looked up on the Sommeliers Choice Awards wine tasting glossary. (Although I’m starting to change my tune after seeing such terms as ‘flabby’ and ‘plonk’ on this list.)

So, this post will cover less technical wine talk and more about the actual physical experience of going wine tasting in Slovenia—which wineries to visit, what to expect, and more such topics so you can make your own Slovenia wine tasting experience whatever the hell you want to make of it!

Here are how my 3 super fun wine tasting experiences went during my Slovenia trip. Plus, I’ve included two bonus must-try Slovenia wine tasting experiences for you. Cheers! Plonk!

Read all about my experiences going wine tasting in Chile here.

Remember this when wine tasting in Slovenia

While you’re out wine tasting in Slovenia, always remember to do so responsibly. I drink very little, and mind-numbingly slow at that, so I felt comfortable driving between the wineries. If this isn’t you, take a look at one of the available wine tours in Slovenia so someone else can handle the transportation for you.

And always be sure to eat, eat often, and always drink plenty of water. Never turn down a cheese platter! (That’ll be funny after you finish reading.) Stay safe on your Slovenian wine tasting adventures!

For more unforgettable experiences here, also check out my post on Apitourism in Slovenia and all the bee-related things you can see and do, including my hilarious honey massage! (Slovenia is the world capital of beekeeping, FYI.)

1. Dreisiebner & the heart-shaped road

The first stop on our day of wine tasting in Slovenia was at Dreisiebner—otherwise known as the winery from which you can see the famous heart-shaped road. Admittedly, we came here to see the adorable little farm road, but the fact that we’d be able to start our wine tasting adventures here added to its appeal.

Dreisiebner is a winery and “tourist farm” which means this is where the family lives and works but also where they welcome visitors. You can come just to see the heart road and leave, or you can stay for light meals and wines of their own making.

How to see the heart road in Slovenia

Once upon a pre-Instagram time, you could simply park in their driveway (essentially) and walk to the end of their property which overlooks the heart road. But the Instagrammers seem to have forgotten that this was still private property and that the beautiful sights of the world were not put here exclusively for their like-counts.

Fed up with the ungrateful direction things were going, the family who lives here thus built a (super nice) viewing platform from which to see the heart road, complete with a turnstile that requires money to access it. And kudos to them for doing so!

Now, it’ll cost you €5 to access the viewing platform (and yes, this is the only spot from which you can actually see the heart). The viewing area is brand new, quite nice actually, and doesn’t at all detract from the gorgeous vineyard surroundings. So shut up about it and pay the €5. You’ll survive.

Before you get all in a huff about it, remember this: This is private property. We should all be so grateful as to remember that this kind family is even allowing perfect strangers to come into their backyard to see stuff like this. So, if they want to charge a few bucks to do so, you should respect that. This isn’t a money-grab; it’s a way to preserve the integrity of their property and vineyards. (And yes, we did see two grown adults—who were no doubt perfectly capable of paying the €5—try to climb over the fence. How embarrassing for them.)

Around here, the heart road is known by its German translation: Herzerlstraße.

Wine tasting at Dreisiebner

Another thing to know about that €5 is that, if you pay it to see the heart road, you then get €5 off a wine purchase. So, win-win.

The day we visited, we were the only people in sight. After checking out the heart road, we politely knocked on the door of the family’s home (as the sign instructed). An older woman answered and graciously offered us food, wine, the opportunity to visit their little wine shop, and more. We opted for a couple glasses of their sparkling wine which we drank on their patio.

To keep things simple, we ordered two of the “Kozarec penine” which I believe just means “Glass of sparkling wine.” I don’t know what this one is officially called or anything more technical than the fact that it was, indeed, a glass of sparkling wine. I only know it was tasty and I liked it. Follow me for more hard-hitting wine tasting journalism.

If you’d like to do a more proper “wine tasting,” they offer that too, with prior arrangement. You’ll be able to sample four of their wines along with snacks and a trip through their super cute wine cellar. (Get all the info on their website below.)

The family name Dreisiebner is German for “three sevens” which is why you’ll feel like you’re drinking wine as a casino.

2. Weingut Familie Trunk

Before I get to the second stop of my day wine tasting in Slovenia, I’mma come clean about something. Our next stop was actually… in Austria. Now before you slam your laptop shut (or, I guess, hit the app close button really hard on your phone screen?), hear me out.

Weingut Familie Trunk, the next winery we visited, is literally just a 5-minute walk (or 1-minute drive) from the Dreisiebner winery. And you get to walk across a border, so that’s fun! (But we still drove here because it felt weird leaving our car parked, quite literally, at someone’s house.)

Finishing up our “glass of sparkling wine” at Dreisiebner, Amanda and I were starting to get hungry. If you looked at our location on a map, you’d see food options are scarcer around here than a Chilean Carménère! (A joke for you oenophiles that took an embarrassing amount of time to come up with.) So, rather than head back towards the city, I asked Amanda: “Hey, wanna have lunch in Austria?”

Sure, we were now technically in Austria, but Slovenia’s Podravska wine region essentially overflows into Austria where it becomes known as Styria.

Wine tasting in Sulztal, Austria

One minute later, here we were at Weingut Familie Trunk… in Austria. And just like that, the menu was in German and the woman who worked here spoke perfect English. A few minutes later and we had two more glasses of wine and a hefty platter of assorted meats and cheeses in front of us. And all in the most idyllic wine tasting environment you could dream of on the most beautiful day in Slovenia.

I ordered a glass of the Welschriesling Trockenbeerenauslese, probably because it has both the word reisling and the word beer in it. Amanda ordered… something pink. Both delicious. For food we shared the Schmankerlteller which loosely translates to giant platter of meats, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and a basket of bread. ‘Twas a deceivingly large amount of food.

As far as wines go, they also offer: a wide range of Styrian classics, Rieden wines (those made from a single vineyard), reds, whites, sparkling wines, sweet wines, home-distilled wines (whatever the heck those are), and something called a “Junker.”

The Trunk family buschenschank

The Weingut Familie Trunk boasts a great deal about their “Excellent Buschenschank!” That word doesn’t have an exact translation (because German) but a buschenschank is essentially a “wine tavern” and a staple of southern Styria.

According to this source, a buschenschank is characterized by dreamy panoramic terraces and rustic interior rooms, where visitors are greeted with “regional delicacies, outstanding wines and a good portion of hospitality.” And if that’s the case, the Weingut Familie Trunk is indeed an excellent, excellent buschenschank!

We arrived shortly after it opened and were the only people there, but not for long. The place quickly began filling up with groups of older locals just chilling out, maxin’, relaxin’ all cool at a winery in the middle of a Wednesday. (I have seen my future, and it is bright.)

FYI – You don’t actually need your passport to get here from Slovenia (if crossing at the Sulztal vineyard border crossing like we did). But it is funny if you have it with you already.

3. Vinogradi Horvat

We chose Vinogradi Horvat as our third spot to go wine tasting in Slovenia after reading the many rave reviews on Tripadvisor. People were calling it the highlight of their whole trip, an “unbelievable value,” and unmatched in terms of the passion and hospitality of the couple who ran the place.

And y’all. Y’ALL. Even though these reviews are SPOT ON, nothing could have prepared us for the unforgettable experience we were going to have. Without a doubt, our visit to the Horvat winery was one of the highlights of our entire Slovenia trip. The only shame in this fact is that words will never do justice to the amazingness of our visit here. So, I will diminish, and go into the West.

OK just kidding; I’m still going to try. Regardless, just know that every glaringly positive thing you’ll ever read about this winery is not only true, but an understatement. I can’t emphasize this enough: when you want to go wine tasting in Slovenia, put Vinogradi Horvat on the top of your list.

Wine tastings at Vinogradi Horvat

Being whatever the opposite of a wine connoisseur is, my preferred method of tasting wine is most closely aligned with ordering a flight and choosing which ones I like and don’t like. Or, choosing a glass of something I know I’ll like so I can say “I’ve had local Slovenian wine,” like I did at the first two places.

I don’t care—and I can’t emphasize this enough—at all about grape varieties, tasting notes, the temperature at which things are conditioned, etc. *points finger gun at head* I just want to try local products and decide on my own if they’re A) tasty, or B) gross. I don’t need or want any formal discussion of wine; I just want to be left alone in a corner with my wine samples thankyouverymuch.

I’m telling you all this because, even though the lovely people at Horvat gave me all the things I most abhor about wine tasting (see above), this was still my favorite wine tasting experience in Slovenia and possibly the entire world in the history of my life. I’m also telling you this because, if you do prefer your wine tastings this way, Horvat is the place for you, hands down.

When coming up with our Slovenia wine tasting plan, Amanda and I chose to visit Horvat based on the glowing reviews, but we almost backed out because the wine tastings here appear to be highly structured. You’ll see on their website that you must reserve wine tastings in advance; and you’ll see in the Tripadvisor reviews that the tastings last around 2.5 hours and involve a deep dive into Slovenian wine culture and the Horvat vineyards. This is about as close to the opposite of what I want that you could get. And yet.

Held hostage in the most delightful way

Without reservations nor a desire for *all of that,* Amanda and I decided we’d just pop in and see if we could try a glass of wine. If not, no sweat; we’d just head somewhere else.

So, we popped in, asked about trying one glass of wine, and the owner Damijan (pronounced like Damien) said something along the lines of: “No, it is not possible… to try just one. You must try THEM ALL!” And in my memories of this day that line was followed by the kind of laugh only an evil mastermind could muster. (But my memories of Damijan also remind me that it was probably more along the lines of an elated giggle.)

We protested this as if we’d had an actual gun to our heads and did our best to back the hell out of there before it was too late. But alas, ‘twas too late, for Damijan had worked his charm on us and we were powerless to resist. We quickly learned that Damijan and his wife Sabina are two of the most charming and hospitable people we’ve ever met. We literally wanted nothing to do with what they offered us, but we couldn’t bring ourselves to just leave. This place felt magnetic.

When we first arrived, there was only one American couple here getting “the full Damijan”—a term I use to describe the 2.5-hour in-depth wine tasting and culture lesson you’re gonna get whether you like it or not. Only, when Damijan left to go get us some wine, the woman turned around and mouthed to me “We’ve been here for over 4 hours!” Amanda and I looked at each other with the same expressions as if we’d just learned we were trapped in a rural farmhouse with a chainsaw-wielding serial killer.

And yet, we stayed. Even as I responded to her with, “Blink twice if you’re being held against your will!” Even as we made jokes to Damijan about being held hostage and force fed wine; and even after he replied in his broken English, “This is not creepy! But did you know the movie Hostel was filmed nearby?” And still, we stayed.

Our wine tasting at Vinogradi Horvat

Because we didn’t have reservations and Damijan still had who knows how many hours left with the other couple, he called in his wife to give us a proper wine tasting. (Even though we specifically asked to not have one and actually tried to leave, repeatedly.) His lovely wife Sabina showed up and could not have been nicer as she started pouring us wine after wine after wine.

Thankfully, she also brought us a spit bucket to go with our—I kid you not—12 bottles of wine. We had all the wines on this page and actually probably some extras (I lost count). As she explained everything there was to explain about each and every one of them, she filled our glasses with a generous portion of each. For the most part, we did our duty of a sip… and then poured the rest of it in the bucket when she turned her back.

The wine was actually so, so good, but to consume the amount of it that was offered to us? I may not have actually seen Hostel but I know no horror movie ever has started with someone refusing copious amounts of alcohol from strangers. We both so appreciated their hospitality and their obvious passion for their family’s wine-making tradition, but we literally just wanted one glass and then to skedaddle.

At some point, the other couple, Amanda, and I ended up in the wine cellar with Damijan. He told us all about how their wine was made (I assume), some other stuff probably, reminded us again that we weren’t in any danger (LOL), and showed us his big key, the purpose of which I don’t remember; I just know it has hidden messages in it. I know my explanation leaves a lot to be desired, but just know it was an incredibly heartwarming experience and we all felt so honored that he shared it with us. We laughed a lot.

The cheese platter

Shortly after we arrived, Sabina offered to make us a cheese platter, to which we said PLEASE NO CHEESE PLATTER! Now I never make it a habit to turn down a cheese platter, but we had just eaten a cheese platter at Weingut Familie Trunk and we were still trying to leave so we didn’t need that kind of commitment. Throughout our marathon wine tasting experience, she pressed the issue: “I would like to make you a cheese platter.” To which we responded, every time, “NO! NO CHEESE PLATTER!”

Remember that scene in My Big Fat Greek Wedding where Toula tries to explain to her aunt that her fiancé doesn’t eat meat? And her aunt responds, “What do you mean he don’t eat no meat?! That’s OK; I make lamb!” This felt like that.

At one point, she left us alone to drink our many many wines at our leisure, but this was just a ruse because 10 minutes later she came back with A CHEESE PLATTER. We shoved the cheese platter back at her with the same force of refusal as if she’d just tried to hand us a giant bag of drugs outside the airport. We exclaimed, “We don’t want a cheese platter! Take your cheese platter back from whence it came!” She threw her hands up as if she was completely helpless in the matter, like she literally could not help but to bring us food. “What do you mean you don’t want a cheese platter?! That’s OK; I make cheese platter!”

This whole interaction and her utter inability to not do something kind for us was so adorable that I just started eating the damn cheese platter. (I mean, whatareyougonnado?) We then got a full lesson on all the local farms where the different cheeses came from.

I’m sharing this completely insignificant account of the cheese platter with you because I feel it’s a perfect metaphor for the entire Horvat wine tasting experience. The passion this family has for their wine and the enthusiasm with which they share it is unrivaled.

Please visit Vinogradi Horvat

We popped in to see if we could avoid a 2.5-hour guided wine tasting and cellar tour and sneak one glass of wine. And… we stayed for 2.5 hours, a guided wine tasting, a tour of the cellar, and a cheese platter the size of Lake Bled. We joked back and forth with Damijan; we laughed until our stomachs hurt; and I did as much damage as I could to a cheese platter I’d tried desperately to dodge.

In the end, after we’d consumed all the wine in the entire winery (I assume) and finally made some leeway on leaving, Sabina apologized profusely as she told us we owed her the equivalent of $16. For all of Slovenia’s wine stores, a 2.5-hour guided wine tasting, a hilarious cellar tour, and a year’s worth of artisanal cheese. Six. Teen. Dollars. And she was apologizing for it. The audacity. As that one Tripadvisor reviewer put it, “unbelievable value” indeed.

Vinogradi Horvat is just 10 minutes away from Maribor and many visitors say they easily took a cab here. I highly recommend doing this! (Had I not have already had my car with me, I may have actually drunk the wine.)

4. Slovenia’s orange wine

Like I said earlier, “orange wine” is the official fourth style of wine, is apparently the oldest wine style, and is a huge thing (read: latest hipster trend) here in Slovenia. Orange wine is produced using white grapes that still have their skins and stems. Keeping all this extra stuff in there during the fermentation process produces wine that’s orange in color.

You can find more in-depth info on Slovenian orange wine on this page, because that’s about as deep as I can bear to delve.

Tasting orange wine in Slovenia

Knowing how much of a *thing* orange wine is in Slovenia, mostly due to the onslaught of DMs I received declaring You must try orange wine!, I made it a point to seek it out. Two days before our official wine tasting in Slovenia adventure, while sitting under an orange sunset and eating orange sorbet on an orange rooftop in Piran, I asked our server which of the orange wines I should try.

He asked how familiar I was with the style (virgin!) and then suggested a few that are best “for beginners.” (Well, that’s a little worrisome.) I went with the Burja Estate basically because he told me to. And… I hated it. This article from Tasting Table describes orange wines like this:

Slovenian orange wines have often been described as bold, a characteristic not often associated with lighter-colored counterparts. They have interesting aromas ranging anywhere from hazelnut to dried orange to juniper, with flavors sometimes equated to those elements found in sour fruit beers.

Now, I love sour beers, but they’re definitely a funky and acquired taste. I have not acquired that same love of the funk when it comes to wine. My orange wine was definitely bold and perhaps even bitter? I’m not the best person to describe it, I just know I was like, “blech!” Slovenia’s latest hipster wine is still worth a taste, but methinks that was probably my last orange wine.

Where to try orange wine

I don’t remember seeing orange wine at all during our day of wine tasting outside Maribor. I personally had it in Piran which is on the other side of the country, on the border with Italy. It’s over here where you’ll have the most access to orange wines, especially at wineries in the Goriška Brda region of Slovenia. (Like these.)

I tried mine at the rooftop bar of my hotel in Piran—Hotel Zala—a fabulous place to stay for many reasons. Definitely check out Hotel Zala if you have plans to visit Piran. (Check out my 3-day Slovenia itinerary for more on visiting Piran!)

5. Wine tasting at Bled Castle (Dornburg Cellar)

My wine tasting experience at Bled Castle (on Lake Bled, where I’m sure you’re headed) was totally unplanned but a welcome addition to my Slovenia itinerary. While exploring the castle grounds shortly after arriving in Bled, it began to downpour.

While everyone else quickly vacated the premises, Amanda and I relished having the castle all to ourselves and eventually took shelter inside the castle’s relatively nondescript wine cellar. The man inside, who I can only describe as the kind of brute you’d expect to find in the wine cellar of a medieval castle, asked if we wanted to have a little wine tasting while we waited out the storm. To which we replied, “Huzzah, kind sir!” or something equally as nerdy, probably.

And so we had ourselves a merry little wine tasting. We got to try reds and whites and paid just €2 each for them. Of all the wines we tasted, my favorite was the Črna Rebula Pokalca and don’t ask me why because I don’t remember. (I take a lot of pictures but very few notes.) It was a(nother) delightful experience that you should definitely add to your Slovenia wine tasting bucket list. The guy can even fill, seal, and label your own bottles for you. Get more info for visiting Dornburg Cellars at Bled Castle here.

Slovenia wine tours

If you’d prefer less of a DIY wine tasting experience and more of a guided tour, I can help you there too! Check out the options below for some of the best tours in Slovenia for wine tasting:

Vipava Valley Wine Tours – These well-reviewed full-day wine tasting tours take you into Slovenia’s Vipava Valley wine region. They include roundtrip transportation (no driving, yay!), a sommelier guide, snacks, and visits to fabulous wineries.

2-Hour Interactive Wine Tasting Experience in Ljubljana – Experience 7 different Slovenian wines (including orange wine!) without ever having to leave the capital. Tons of rave reviews!

Food & Wine Tour – Local Foodie Adventure in Ljubljana – If you would, in fact, never dream of turning down a cheese platter, this tour is for you!

Slovenian wine tasting at Hotel Triglav Bled’s wine cellar – The description says, “For wine enthusiasts, this Bled Wine Tasting Experience at Hotel Triglav Bled is a must-do.” So there. And nothing but 5-star reviews, too.

Private Family-Owned Vineyard Wine Tasting Trip from Ljubljana – Get a private wine tasting experience for just your group. (Includes cheese!)

OK, there are actually so many great ones to choose from, and all over the country, so just check out all the best Slovenia wine tour options here on Viator and here on Get Your Guide.

I hope I’ve been able to help narrow down your search for the best wineries to experience during your day(s) wine tasting in Slovenia. Whether it be on a walking tour, a visit to a wine estate, or the exact same way we did it, I hope you have the best day in the rolling hills of Slovenian wine country.

More info for your trip to Slovenia wine country

• Hotels: Find great places to stay in Slovenia here on Booking.com. (Expedia and Hotels.com usually have good deals too.) While wine tasting in Slovenia, I stayed at the Hotel Orel in Maribor.
• Rental cars: Check out the best rental car deals in Slovenia here.
• Travel planning: Pick up a Slovenia guidebook and this must-have Slovenia customs and culture guide.
• Tours & activities: Check out the great Slovenia tour options here on Viator and Get Your Guide.

Like this post? Have questions about wine tasting in Slovenia? Let me know in the comments below! Have fun amongst the vines!

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