Bela krajina

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• Geologically, the Bela krajina area is low karst, bounded to the east by the Kolpa river, transitioning to the north into the Gorjanci hills, and to the west and south into the Roška planota.
• The lower boundary of the vineyards approaches the floor of the Bela krajina basin at around 210 m above sea level, while the upper limit reaches approximately 390 m above sea level.
• The low karst of Bela krajina is composed of Cretaceous limestones, in places covered by a thick layer of Pleistocene loam, while the slopes of the Bela krajina basin are built of Jurassic limestones and dolomites.
• Along the far eastern edge, beneath the Gorjanci hills on the Slovenian–Croatian border, Tertiary-age marls occur in places.
• The average sum of effective temperatures during the growing season in the Bela krajina winegrowing district ranges from 1,245.7 °C at Doblič to 1,329.0 °C at Metlika, averaging 1,287.4 °C, while average growing-season rainfall is around 750 mm, representing approximately 64% of total annual precipitation.

• Winemakers in Bela krajina produce mainly white blends, in which Laški rizling and Kraljevina are the dominant varieties, with other higher-quality varieties contributing harmony to the blend.
• Among the red wines, blends likewise predominate, with Modra frankinja and Žametovka as the principal varieties, followed by Šentlovrenka, Portugieser, and Gamay.
• A distinctive feature of this winegrowing district is the so-called communal wine cellars (soseske zidanice). (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)

• The white wines display a pale yellow colour with greenish hues; they are relatively light-bodied (10.5–11.5% vol. alcohol) with a pleasant acidity (5.5–7.0 g/l), which makes them very easy to drink.
• The red blends display an intense ruby-red colour with noticeable primary aromas of the red varieties in the first year, which are later replaced by more developed aromas, along with a moderate tannic backbone that lends a pleasant grip.
• The varietal red wines are distinguished by a robust character, an intense red colour with violet hues, and a rich tannic structure that provides ageing potential.
• Young Portugieser, as a speciality among the red wines of Bela krajina, is distinguished by an intense red colour with violet hues, freshness and fruitiness on the nose, and a well-balanced palate following completed malolactic fermentation.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

All appellations in Slovenia

Sources

• eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PDO-SI-A0878
• Official trade body site — Društvo vinogradnikov Metlika