We ended our tour on a fantastic high as we headed to the Vipava Valley – about an hour south west of Ljubljana. This area is gaining an increasingly high quality reputation for top class whites and reds including the local Zelen and Pinela grapes. Our destination was Lepa Vida – a small family owned estate run by Irena and Matija Gerzina. Irena’s family have developed the small estate and built a super tasing room looking straight onto the vineyards and hills.
Irena was a tour de force who grabbed the group by the scruff of the neck, gave us a good shakedown and left us completely enthralled with her enthusiasm, fabulously droll sense of humour and professional presentation that covered Slovenian history, the family history and so much more. On top of that, we tasted a great set of wines that reflected the typical varieties of Vipava. Malvasia in three styles, Zelen, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot.
All accompanied by a delicious selection of cheese, meats and other nibbles – not that that we needed any extra food before our Michelin * lunch.
What a sensational visit!
From Lepa Vida it was twenty minutes back in the direction of Ljubljana and Gostilna Pri Lojzetu restaurant. There was much anticipation as we took some sparkling rosé on the terrace before heading downstairs into a wonderful cavernous dining room. Course after course emerged with wine after wine. Innovative different, theatrical, delicious – so many components – all delivered by charming and really friendly staff.
This was a truly stunning finish to the tour and it summed up just how dynamic the Slovenia wine and food scene is.
A great end to a great tour, which ended for some with a late flight back home from Ljubljana, and for others some further Slovenian exploration.
