goriska Brda wine region
Our first stop the next day was in the sleepy town of Dobrovo, the main administrative centre of Brda and the centre of the Brda wine region. First stop Dobrovo castle which dates from the 13th century but what you can see today is mostly from the 17th century. It is currently under renovation so you won’t be able to see inside but you can still wander around outside and enjoy the impressive architecture, though the restaurant is still open. In June each year the castle square hosts an Open Wine Cellar weekend where many of the region’s wineries gather to showcase their wines. You can also visit many of the wineries around the area as well, either using your own transport, or on the special buses laid on for the event.
After the castle we continued to Klet Brda winery who support a number of winegrowers in the area and where the wine is produced on quite an industrial scale as it is the largest wine producer in the country. It was a good introduction to the region highlighting the most popular wine variety, Rebula, but also some interesting orange wines.
We then continued our short drive to the fabulous Gredič Hotel which was to be our base for the next two nights. Sitting in the tiny hamlet of Ceglo and metres from the border with Italy, the four hundred year old hotel is housed in a castle-style villa. Complete with swimming pool, restaurant, vinothèque, cosy lounge and beautiful bedrooms, the Gredič is an idyllic retreat where you can unwind and relax while enjoying the gorgeous scenery surrounding the castle. The Michelin star restaurant is a highlight, we enjoyed both the degustation and à la carte options during our stay. We spent both days walking around the area, visiting wineries and enjoying the pool area overlooking the vines. You can even stroll into Italy from the hotel, leave the passport behind.
We visited Marjan Simčič, Edi Simčič, and Movia wineries. I have to say that they were some of the very best wineries we have ever visited, they are world class winemakers who take great pride in their wines. The wines are to die for and the views from the terraces where you enjoy the tastings are heavenly; no crowds or large coach tours here.
It’s a little tricky visiting the Goriška Brda region without your own wheels. There are no direct buses to either Šmartno or Dobrovo, you have to go via Nova Gorica and will take hours. In the summer use either place as your base and then take advantage of the handy hop on hop off bus that circles the area. There are also plenty of day tours from Ljubljana that will take in Smartno, Dobrovo and a winery or two. Check out brda.si/en/ for more information
