Eastern European Adventure - Amazingness in Wine

From the foothills of the Alps to the coast of the Adriatic, Slovenia has more than 28,000 wineries in its small expanse, and produces extremely high class wine. With each sip during our stay (which was certainly not long enough), I felt like I was tasting the sun and pure happiness.  

We stayed at a lovely winery in the Goriska Brda region of Slovenia - Kabaj Winery. It was harvesting time and although the wine makers and crews were active with the harvest, the surrounding landscape and chateau were quiet and tranquil. I wished that I could bottle up the bliss and relaxation I felt while staying there. We arrived and were greeted with a gorgeous tasting bottle of Zeleni Sauvignon. Pure beauty in a bottle. We purchased several more bottles of various magical wines from their winery during our stay and enjoyed them on the stunning terrace overlooking the acres of vineyards.

In addition to the lovely tasting wine from the Kabaj winery, we tasted quite a bit of wine from Movia Estates. We had read about this winery and that they offered interesting tours and wine tastings by reservation. Our plans had fallen through one rainy afternoon, and we spontaneously stopped by to see if we could tour their winery. 

When we arrived on the winery grounds, no one was really around and it seemed closed. We entered the main building and found a busy looking Slovenian man talking on the phone. We asked him about getting a tour and tasting, but knew we didn't have a reservation so we didn't expect much. But the man said, "Well, I'm pretty busy and have a lot of work to do, [long pause] how about you men help me and I will give you a tour as we work in our winery together."

Ummmmmmm...okay...we agreed.

And that's how we ended up spending the afternoon moving wine barrels, drinking the best wine of our lives (including Puro, a crisp, organic sparkling wine which this winemaker makes from Chardonnay, Ribolla Gialla, and Pinot Noir - sooo delightful) and some other delicious wine (Veliko Bianca, Veliko Rosso, and Cabernet Sauvignan), and having intriguing conversations with the expressive, brilliant millionaire and winemaker Ales Kristancic, owner of Movia Estates.

It was a surreal experience, and a once in a lifetime opportunity. Pretty soon this extravagant, charismatic winemaker was passionately explaining the love and feeling he invests into his work and the operation of the family's winery of eight generations. Our afternoon overflowed with laughter, lots of learning, and jubilant story telling. 

As we sipped glass after glass, we looked out over the lush low, rolling hills painted with rows of vines, and peeks of small hilltop towns of white buildings with terra-cotta shingles, and heard Slovenian music in the distance. Having Slovenian roots of my own, it was a perfect moment.

Thanks for the memories, Slovenia! Ljubim te!

Slovenian countryside.

Right on the Italian boarded. Italy, this way!

Not a bad view.

The Kabaj winery.

Grapes growing.

Rows and rows of grapes.

Plump.

Miles and miles.

Dreamy.

The fermenting tanks at Movia. 

You're suppose to keep it upside down.

"Go get many glasses."
We shared a glass with the owner and barrel makers from nearby. 

Enjoying the terrace. 

Exploring the grounds.

Some of the wine we tasted from the scores they had on premises.

Line up the usual suspects.

Deep underground, aging barrels.

Moving barrels to earn our keep!

In all the world, there isn't a worse off wheelbarrow.

A once in a lifetime adventure.

These were a bit old.

There were so many rooms, each with their own surprises.

Tasting the fruity grape mash.

 Big Pumpn' 

She totally knows how to run these large pumps. Sure.

Matt and Erik are now experts in wine fermenting tubes and connectors. 

Freshly harvested grapes.