46 | TASTE OF SLOVENIA


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A Sip of Slovenia: A Small Country Making a Big Impact on The Wine Scene


June 2026


Salt, Saunas and Scrubs: Authentic Wellness


Experiences in Slovenia


WELLNESS travel has been on the rise for some time and Slovenia is filled with ways to relax. From salt therapy and saunas to relaxed hik- ing, the country is a great place to enhance wellbeing. Holistic healing


Sečovlje Salt Pans Nature Park The sea is a treasure trove of natural ingredients that are destined to have a beneficial effect on our bodies. Slovenia’s Sečovlje Salt Pans Nature Park is a natural outdoor wellness centre


where visitors can enjoy


pampering from the rich minerals of the Adriatic Sea. Situated on the nature park, the Lepa Vida Thalasso Spa offers traditional thalassotherapy using salt pan mud and brine from the Park. Treatments include mud wraps, salt scrubs and full body massages Salt is proven to be beneficial on the respiratory system and skin as well as preventing infections. Pohorje Peat Pohorje peat is a unique mud extracted from the Pohorje Hills forests which has natural healing characteristics.


For production, it


requires low annual temperatures, heavy rainfall, an impermeable base to form, making it a rarity. Consisting of 90% water and 10% decomposed


SLOVENIA may be small in size, but it is making a big impact on the global wine scene. Tucked between Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia,


the country is


home to three wine- growing regions and nine districts, with more than 2,500 winemakers producing everything from crisp whites and elegant sparkling wines to bold Mediterranean reds.


quality,


Despite this diversity and Slovenia remains


refreshingly under the radar, offering wine lovers the chance to discover remarkable bottles and centuries-old crowds.


traditions away from the


Diverse Wine Regions Slovenia’s three wine regions each carry their own identity. In Primorska, Mediterranean


breezes and terra rossa


soil create full-bodied reds such as Refošk and Teran, as well as the increasingly popular orange wines. The Podravje region, stretching across the country’s east, is known for its whites – from Riesling to the indigenous Furmint – and is ranked among the top 4% of the best wine-growing sites


in the world. Meanwhile, Posavje is the birthplace of Cviček, a light red wine with low alcohol content, often enjoyed in vineyard cottages known as zidanice.


Wine Experiences for Travellers Travellers can get their


fix of Slovenian wine culture in a variety of ways: cycling between vineyards, hiking along wine routes, or joining the annual harvest to pick grapes alongside local families.


Vineyard cottages


offer overnight stays surrounded by vines, while traditional osmica wine bars, open for just a few weeks each


year, provide the chance to taste homemade wines and dishes in a historic setting. Osmice are wine bars with a tradition dating back more than 200 years. During the reign of Empress Maria Theresa and Austrian Emperor Joseph II,


wine-


makers and farmers were allowed to sell their extra wine from the


previous year for eight days


in a wine bar under a branch. Later, these wine bars were named osmice (eights – signifying the eight days of selling wine) and ivy branches are still used to mark their locations.


Slovenia is steadily positioning itself as one of Europe’s most intriguing wine destinations. For wine lovers seeking something different – beyond the well- trodden routes of Bordeaux or Tuscany – Slovenia is your


answer.


plant material that easily traps heat, peat


contact both soothes


promotes healing and is popular for curing many ailments. The power of the natural resource is used for therapies and pampering through baths and wraps. Immerse in nature


The Slovenian Mountain Trail The Slovenian Mountain Trail


is


one of the most popular long-distance trails in the country. Spanning 617 kilometres, the hike begins in Maribor and takes walkers across the plateaus of the Pohorje Hills, the Kamnik and Savinja Alps. The trail is split into multiple stages, catering to everyone from beginners to advanced walkers. Travellers can see the incredible Karavanke Alps, Julian Alps, and feel the fresh sea breeze of the Adriatic coast.


Alpe Adria Trail


Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, there is no better way to experience the great outdoors than hiking the Alpe Adria Trail. Linking Slovenia to Austria and Italy, the trail is approximately 750 kilometres long, has 43 stages and is suitable for hikers of all abilities. The Slovenian part of the trail offers many opportunities for authentic restaurant stops and stays at mountain huts and traditional inns.


pain,


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