📍 Goriška Brda

Goriška Brda is a hilly wine district in western Slovenia, right on the border with Italy, in the Primorska area. The name means “hills around Gorizia”. It is a continuation of Italy's Collio: hills, vineyards and villages on both sides of the border are very similar. The climate is mild, Mediterranean with an Alpine influence: warm summers and cool nights.

The soil is marl and sandstone, locally called “opoka”. It drains well and gives the wine minerality. Goriška Brda is valued for white wines, especially from the local grape Rebula (Ribolla Gialla in Italian). It is made dry and aged on the skins to give orange wines, and also sparkling. Chardonnay, Sauvignon Vert (Friulano in Italian), Merlot and others grow alongside.

The district is rich in cherry orchards, and in spring blossoming trees brighten the hills. Fortified hill villages attract visitors. One of them is Šmartno, a fortified medieval village. The Goriška Brda name is protected.

For comparison with its neighbours: to the west across the border lie Italy's Collio and Colli Orientali, to the south Carso, and to the east the Vipava valley, also in the Primorska.