Slovenia

The government notes that the Old Vine in Maribor, a Žametovka (Modra kavčina) vine, has a confirmed age of over 400 years and is listed by Guinness as the oldest noble vine still bearing grapes; it gives 35–55 kg of grapes a year. Sparkling wine has a long record in Štajerska: Gornja Radgona, the government says, has over 150 years of sparkling-wine production. The present origin system is recent. Slovenia's three regional PGIs have been protected in the EU since 26 January 2006 and most district PDOs since 17 February 2006, with Bizeljčan, Štajerska Slovenija, Slovenska Istra and Metliška črnina following in 2009. Since 1992 the government has recorded several abundant harvests (1993, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2007, 2015 and 2018); the 2021 harvest, cut by spring frost, gave 467,000 hl.

Podravje in the north-east has two districts. Štajerska Slovenija, the largest in the country at 5,400 ha, has a moderately cool climate between the cool Pohorje Hills and the Pannonian Plain, with sandy clay, at times marl and limestone, on steep terraced slopes; Prekmurje (440 ha) is smaller and warmer. Posavje in the south-east is the smallest region: Bela krajina (300 ha) south of the Gorjanci Hills has large day-night temperature differences, Dolenjska (1,350 ha) lies on the right bank of the Sava, and Bizeljsko-Sremič (700 ha) is continental with Pannonian influence and sand cellars. The government calls Bizeljsko-Sremič and Dolenjska the coldest districts. Primorska in the south-west is the warmest region, with Adriatic influence in all four districts: Kras (560 ha) on red terra rossa, Vipavska dolina (2,100 ha) on flysch between Alpine air and winds from the Gulf of Trieste, Goriška Brda (1,800 ha) on flysch, and Slovenska Istra (1,850 ha), mostly flysch and the warmest district.

The government links styles to districts. Štajerska Slovenija is known for Furmint and aromatic white varieties from steep hillsides, and for sparkling wine. In Bela krajina, large day-night differences are said to keep aromatic wines fresh. The coldest districts, Bizeljsko-Sremič and Dolenjska, are described as offering outstanding conditions for sparkling wine. In Kras, Teran is a deep purple wine from the red Refosco variety grown on terra rossa. In Vipavska dolina, white blends of Malvasia, Rebula, Zelen and Pinela are said to show the district's most authentic character. In Slovenska Istra, Refosco and Malvasia are called the "king and queen".

The EU register lists three Slovenian wine PGIs, named after the regions (Podravje, Posavje and Primorska), and 14 PDOs. Nine PDOs are district names: Štajerska Slovenija, Prekmurje, Bizeljsko Sremič, Dolenjska, Bela krajina, Kras, Vipavska dolina, Goriška Brda and Slovenska Istra. Five are names of traditional wines: Cviček, Teran, Metliška črnina, Belokranjec and Bizeljčan. The Goriška Brda technical file shows the national quality categories: kakovostno vino ZGP (quality wine with protected geographical origin) and vrhunsko vino ZGP (top-quality wine), with quality sparkling wine, and a minimum tasting score of 16. White varieties prevail among the 60 grown. The government names Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gelber Muskateller, Traminer, Chardonnay and Furmint in Štajerska, Blaufränkisch in Posavje, Merlot in Vipavska dolina, and Refosco and Malvasia in Primorska.