📍 Posavje

Posavje is a wine region in south-eastern Slovenia, along the Sava river, near the border with Croatia. It includes three districts: Bizeljsko-Sremič, Dolenjska and Bela Krajina. The climate is temperate continental, and the hills are covered with vineyards and forests.

It is the home of cviček, a light dry red wine with high acidity, low strength (only 8.5 to 10% alcohol) and a pale ruby colour. It is made from a blend of red and white grapes, the main one being Žametovka (a red grape, one of the oldest in Slovenia), plus Blaufränkisch (Modra frankinja). Cviček has protected Traditional Speciality Guaranteed status in the EU. It is customarily drunk young and chilled.

Whites of the district are made from Welschriesling (Laški rizling) and other grapes. Bizeljsko-Sremič is also known for sparkling wines.

Posavje is part of Slovenian winemaking. If you know Slovenian wines from Primorska, full-bodied and rich, Posavje shows a completely different, lighter style. Cviček is drunk with cold appetisers, sausages and cheese. The name Posavje on a label shows that the grapes grew in this very area, which makes it easy to look for similar wines.