A self-drive loop tour starting in Ljubljana to explore Slovenia’s wine culture. Enjoy the quality of the vineyards and terroir, and discover up-and-coming wineries.
Set off on a journey to discover the country’s finest wines amidst the vineyards. It’s a sensory journey to delight your senses. Whether as a couple or with friends, this gastronomic tour takes you to explore different wine regions:
– Ljubljana, Europe’s “greenest” capital, and its medieval old town
– The vineyards of Jeruzalem and the wine route
– Biodynamic viticulture in the Vipava Valley
– The Italian charm of the Goriska Brda Valley
– A variety of accommodations: wine taverns, eco-lodges, or boutique hotels
Day 1: Ljubljana
Meet and greet upon arrival at Ljubljana Airport. Private transfer and check-in at the hotel. Meet your guide for a 2-hour private walking tour of the Slovenian capital at your own pace. Stroll through the pedestrian-friendly city center and along the Ljubljanica River to visit the main sights of this beautiful city. Throughout the walk, your guide will share anecdotes, legends, and information about the city and the country.
Meet your wine expert guide for a 2-hour tasting session in a small group. Sample 7 of Slovenia’s finest wines from various wine-growing regions while learning about the history of Slovenian winemaking and key aspects of local culture, all in a 300-year-old wine cellar. Overnight stay at a 4-star boutique hotel in the heart of Ljubljana.
Day 2: Ljubljana
The Wine Route and the towns along the Drava River. A day exploring the eastern part of the country. Visit Maribor, the country’s second-largest city, full of charm with its historic old town, followed by Ptuj, a town with a rich history located in the Styria region. Continue eastward to discover Slovenian wines, which are relatively unknown but full of surprises. Check in at your accommodation. Overnight stay at a 3-star tavern/guesthouse in the vineyards. Standard room.
Day 3: Jeruzalem
The Slovenian Wine Route. Before exploring the local vineyards, head to Ljutomer and Verzej for a stroll along the Mura River, home to the famous floating mills. After that, head to the Halozes and Jeruzalem valleys. Slovenian wines are relatively unknown and will surprise you. First, the scenery—with its rolling hills, vineyards, sunflowers, and small hilltop villages—makes for a very pleasant drive, like a true scenic tour. You’ll also pass through the town of Ormoz.
Gourmet wine tasting break. Tasting of five premium wines at a vineyard in Mackovci, in northeastern Slovenia, paired with local specialties, including a cheese platter. Tour of the estate and screening of a short film tracing the vineyard’s history before the tasting begins. Gourmet tasting break: Stop at a vineyard in the Jeruzalem wine region for a tasting of four of their wines. Overnight stay at a 3-star tavern/guesthouse in the vineyards. Standard room. Rental of an economy-class E-category vehicle, 4/5-door, Renault Clio model, including:
At the rental location, the rental company may offer you additional insurance if needed.
Day 4: Matetic Vineyards
A journey through the regions of Lower Carniola and White Carniola. This day’s drive offers you the chance to enjoy the hills, crisscrossed by rivers and covered in forests. Characteristic hayracks, restored castles, and small villages dot the route. You’ll discover another side of the country where slow travel truly comes into its own, in addition to the various notable sites you’ll encounter along the way: the castles of Podcetrtek and Otocec, the old town of Novo Mesto, and the Krka Valley. Stop in Postojna. Arrival in the Vipava Valley. Check-in at the hotel. On the way, stop at the Postojna Cave. Until 1818, visitors could only see 300 meters of the cave.
Today, you can explore over 5 kilometers of spectacular galleries, passages, and chambers. You might wonder if it’s really worth visiting a cave on vacation, right? Well, don’t hesitate—this cave is full of surprises, even if it is quite touristy. After picking up your audio guide, the cave train takes you on a journey to discover an unimaginable underground world. Audio guides available in French. Gourmet tasting stop. Stop at a biodynamic winery in the village of Planina, near Ajdovščina, in the Vipava Valley. Tasting of 7 wines paired with appetizers and a tour of the cellars. This modern vineyard is committed to respecting nature and ecosystems. The key to life lies in harmony and balance. All the vines are terraced, and the Guyot training system is used here. During pruning, cuts are carefully controlled, allowing the internal sap of the vines to flow and preserving their vitality. A model of biodynamics to discover in this vineyard, offering a magnificent view of the Vipava Valley and the slopes of Nanos, Caven, and the Trnovo Plateau. Overnight stay in a 4-star eco-village in the heart of the forest. Standard Bungalow.
Day 5: Vipava Valley
Half-day (wine tasting) tour with your private guide, lasting approximately 5 hours and by bike. Bike tour through the heart of the Vipava Valley. Your guide will take you along small roads through vineyards, orchards, and the quaint villages typical of Slovenian Istria. Stops at various scenic viewpoints are planned, with explanations about the region and the history of the valley. To round out the tour, we’ll stop at a winery to meet the winemakers and taste different local wine varieties. This tasting will be accompanied by appetizers and tapas.
Total duration of the activity (including transfers): 5 hours. Difficulty: easy, suitable for everyone. Overnight stay in a 4-star eco-village in the heart of the forest. Standard bungalow.
Day 6: Piran
Vineyards by the sea. Drive to Piran. Along the way, visit Izola and Koper. A little gem on the Adriatic, you’ll appreciate Piran’s authenticity, its lively atmosphere, and its diverse population. Tour the city’s main squares—popular gathering spots for locals—winding alleyways, Venetian houses, and the Minorite Monastery. A sweeping panoramic view opens up at the top of the hill, where St. George’s Church overlooks the city.
From this vantage point, you can see Slovenia, Croatia, and Italy all at once. Continue on to the Goriska Brda valley and the quaint villages of Dobrovo and Smartno. Check in at the hotel. Overnight stay at a 3-star hotel surrounded by vineyards and lush greenery. Standard room.
Day 7: Brda Valley
Gourmet wine tasting stop. Stop in the Goriska Brda Valley, near the village of Dobrovo, at the stunning Klet Brda winery. Self-guided tasting of 10 different wines with explanations. This winery brings together 400 families who have been working together for over 50 years to promote Slovenian wine internationally. Wine-growing practices at this estate are primarily manual, with special attention paid to the natural cycle of the grape and its various characteristics.
Gourmet wine tasting stop. Stop in the Goriska Brda Valley at the family-run Vina Ronk estate, located in the small village of Vipolze right on the border with Italy, between the sea and the mountains. Tasting of 5 wines accompanied by appetizers, with commentary from the winemaker. To cultivate the vines, the Ronk family uses the Guyot method and performs all work exclusively by hand. Overnight stay in a 3-star hotel surrounded by vineyards and greenery. Standard room.
Day 8: Brda Valley
Drive to Ljubljana Airport. Check-in and boarding. Depending on your travel schedule, stop by the remarkable medieval town of Skofja Loka, whose historic center has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Take a stroll through the town center toward Mestni Square, and take the opportunity to visit the imposing castle and its museum, which overlook the town.
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