Simona Česen - the Best Sommelier of Slovenia 2025 and the head sommelier of the Wine Bar Šuklje in Ljubljana - in this interview shares her thoughts about preparation to the World Best Sommelier 2026 competition

The Stara Trta - “The Old Vine” in Slovenian - was planted during the time when Maribor was still besieged by the Turks. For more than 400 years, this legendary vine in Maribor has survived wars, fires, floods, phylloxera, and even near destruction, yet it still produces grapes every year. The Stara Trta - “The Old Vine” in Maribor, Slovenia - the official Guinness record keeper Curious about the grape variety? It is Žametna Črnina (Black Velvet), a Slovenian dark-skinned gra

François Botton  is a French-born winemaker and sparkling wine specialist  who has become an influential figure in Slovenia’s wine scene, particularly through his work with Domaine Slapšak  in the Dolenjska region. He is originally from the Champagne region of France and studied winemaking at the Université de Reims  in Champagne. Before moving to Slovenia, he gained experience working with prestigious Champagne houses such as Roederer  and in consulting roles around the worl

Slovenia’s smallest wine region, Posavje, is an emerging star in traditional-method Penina production. With ancient caves, cool hills, and local grapes, this region is full of surprises: 1️⃣ Location: Southeastern Slovenia, along the Sava River and Croatian border Posavje covers around 2,400 hectares of vines across three districts: Dolenjska, Bizeljsko-Sremič, and Bela Krajina 2️⃣ Climate: Moderate-to-cool continental, with warming from the Pannonian Plain and cooling from t

Wine term of the week - SUHO! Whether you're a wine lover or a wine professional, understanding the terms used on Slovenian bottles will...

Among Slovenia’s three main wine regions, Podravje stands out as the birthplace of Penina and the heart of cool-climate viticulture....

“Champagne or penina is the most popular and loved among today’s Slovenian gentry. There is no true festivity or ceremony where penina...