Tasting Report: 30 Outstanding Slovenian Wines

I have been a fan of top Slovenian wines for some time now. I know a number of the best producers. I appreciate their beautiful vineyards and their passion for winemaking.

Slovenia is a clean and modern country with only about two million people. The whole country is slightly smaller in size than New Jersey and includes about 20,000 hectares of vineyards.

The best wines clearly come from the area of Brda. It is geographically part of the area of Friuli's Collio, and it contains the lion's share of the best vineyards. Brda accounts for 2,300 hectares of the 3,000 hectares of Collio. Slovenian winemakers say they have the best terroirs and microclimates.

The best producers of Brda accelerate with the same grape types as their Italian neighbors, from chardonnay and pinot grigio to pinot noir and merlot, not to mention ribolla gialla, which is one of my favorites. Many blend varietals together in their wines for complexity - both red and white.

One downside for me with Solvenian wines is that some producers have a tendency to over-extract in winemaking, making their wines a little heavy. I like the wines from the region a little more refined and delicate. But perhaps this richer style is the true character of the region?

I tasted the current releases as well as some reserve wines from who I believe are the three best Slovenian producers: Simičič, Movia and Kabaj. I visited them all a few years back.

Simičič is the most modern-styled winemaker making bold, ultra-clean, and stylish reds and white. Kabaj makes wines that are both modern and also hipster. He makes some wines in amphora but I didn't get a chance to taste them for this small report. Meanwhile, Movia makes wines that are wonderfully unique - even weird. For example, I loved Movia's wine called Lunar 8. Half Moon, a pure ribolla gialla. It's totally natural with no sulfur or filtration. And the yeast sediment in the bottle is about one third of the bottle, making it cloudy. But it's a soulful and unusual experience to taste the wine. Decant before serving.

The top Slovenian wines - both white and red - age extremely well. So don't be afraid to try one if you find it.