Slovenia is located in what was once the north-western corner of Yugoslavia. Since independence in 1991 it has developed its wine industry into a more modern, export orientated production with many "boutique" producers making higher quality, award-winning wines. Nearly all the wines made in Slovenia are white. The country is bordered by four of Europe's most long-established wine producing nations; Croatia to the south, Hungary to the east, Austria to the north and Italy to the west.
There are three main wine producing regions:
1/ Primorska, the coastal area bordering Italy's Collio in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, where the Goriska Brda sub-region is probably the most acclaimed, makes similar style wines including "orange" wines from the Rebula (Ribolla) grape. Kras is known for its Malvazija (Malvasia) whites and reds from Refošk (Refosco), Kraški Teran (Terrano) and the "international" Bordeaux grapes (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc & Merlot).
2/ Podravje, the largest region in the east of the country (surrounding the town of Maribor) makes over half the country's entire production and Štajerska Slovenija (Styria), which borders the Styrian region of southern Austria, has wines reflecting the Germanic influence under which this land has often fallen. Riesling, under the names Laški rizling and Renski rizling, as well as Traminec (Gewürztraminer), Sauvignon and Šipon (Furmint) are grown here.
3/ Posavje, a small region just south of the centre of the country known for its local cviček wines.
