This month the #WorldWineTravel group is writing about lesser known wine regions. I am taking the opportunity to write about an area of first heard of in 2018 from one of the members of the Scurek wine family at an American Wine Society event. I was there to give a Masterclass on Lugana wines from Lake Garda but also was able to attend other sessions. I attended one on Slovenia and learned about a very interesting region called Brda that is right on the border of Friuli Venezia Giulia. The area is called Goriška Brda and they grow a lot of interesting varieties, some of which are also grown across the border in Italy. My favorite and what they often showcase is Rebula.

Whenever I get the chance to taste wines from Brda I do and I suggest you do the same. Often compared to other regions with green rolling hills, wines from this part of Slovenia are usually brimming with minerality and acidity thanks to their location as well as gorgeous fruit aromas and flavors. Brda is in the west of Slovenia bordering the Collio in Italy. The area is blessed because it is located between the Mediterranean and the Julian Alps which allows for a great microclimate and healthy ripe grapes. In addition to the climate, the soils which are marl and flysch, a sedimentary soil with many layers and very complicated geological origin that combines sand, sandstone, limestone, and marl. A sea was located in the Brda hills millions of years ago and contributed to the formation of these soils which are called Opoka here.

Every year at Vinitaly in April, I try to taste wines from Slovenia and specifically from Brda. I am often able to find a number of producers showing their wines and this year was no exception. Rebula can be made into a variety of still and sparkling wines. There are also many biotypes of the variety grown in Brda. This year I tried wines from a company called Medot which is home to the Simcic family. From their literature it seems that their founder Zvonimir was fundamental in creating Rebula’s fame in this area. Today Medot is run by his grandson, seen in the picture above and they focus a lot of traditional method sparkling wines made from Rebula, sometimes blended with Chardonnay in the sparkling versions and often 100% in their still wines.

The second winery I visited with at Vinitaly this April was Kristalvin, also in Brda, also a family winery with a long history. I particularly liked this Cuvée which was a Brut Nature and the Rebula in the above photo.

Rebula brings together what I love in white wines – minerality, acidity, saltiness, stone fruit, some faint herbaceous note, texture and heft on the palate but also verticality and lift. These wines are wonderful on their own but would sing when paired with Sushi/Sashimi or fish dishes. My very first Ribolla Gialla in Italy was at a Sushi restaurant back in 2002. I still think that is a perfect pairing but so many other dishes would work too. If you get the chance to try Rebula, grab it. You will not be disappointed.

If you are ready to go to Brda, let’s plan a trip. In the meantime, enjoy all the other virtual travel options this month through the posts of my fellow #WorldWineTravel writers and please comment and share:

Robin from  Crushed Grape Chronicles dishes on “Liechtenstein, Valle d’Aosta and the Umpqua Valley – a few wine regions you may may not be familiar with”

Jennifer from Vino Travels posts “Blaufrankisch of Upstate New York’s Finger Lakes Region”

Martin from Enoflyz Wine Blog shares “Beyond the Usual: Discovering Teran from Slovenia’s Coastal Karst”

Gwendolyn from Wine Predator showcases “Discovering Virginia Wine + Cuisine via the Governor’s Cup Case 2025: 3 Red Blends with Ham, Gratin, Greens”

Cathie from Side Hustle Vino adds “Off The Beaten Vineyard in Guanajuato, Mexico”

Andrea from The Quirky Cork brings “Greece’s Most Ancient Grape Finds a Home on the Slopes of Meliton”

Camilla from Culinary Cam writes “Rkatsiteli: An Ancient Grape from the Oldest Wine-Producing Region on Earth”

Terri from Our Good Life joins with “New-to-Me Wine Region: Affinitas Sarga Muskotaly in Hungary”

Wendy from A Day in the Life on the Farm pens “Sipping a Chardonnay from the Fingers Lake Area”

Here, at Avvinare, I write about “Discovering Brda in Slovenia”