Bela krajina

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• The area is low karst; the basin's slopes are formed by Jurassic limestones and dolomites, while Cretaceous limestones are in places covered by Pleistocene ilovica.
• The vineyards lie between 210 and 390 m above sea level on the southern slopes of Gorjanci and the eastern slopes of the Roška planota.
• Climatic influences are a mix of Mediterranean and continental; the varied relief creates considerable diversity in mesoclimatic conditions among individual lege.
• The average sum of effective temperatures during the growing season ranges from 1,245.7 °C (Dobliče) to 1,329.0 °C (Metlika), and is 15–20 % higher on pronounced lege.
• At the far eastern edge, beneath Gorjanci along the Slovenian–Croatian border, Tertiary-age laporovec outcrops occur.

• The varieties Modra frankinja, Žametovka, Šentlovrenka, Portugizac, and Gamay are the traditional red varieties used in blends from Bela krajina.
• The vinorodni okoliš is known for the production of special-quality wines, ranging from pozna trgatev through suhi jagodni izbor and ledeno vino.

• White wines: pale yellow with greenish hues, lighter-bodied (10.5–11.5 % vol.), with pleasant acidity; blends are based on Laški rizling and Kraljevina.
• Red blends (Modra frankinja, Žametovka): intense ruby colour, moderate tannic backbone; varietal red wines have ageing potential.

• The geological diversity (apnenec, dolomit, ilovica) and mesoclimatic variety are expressed in the overall freshness and drinkability of the wines.

Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.

Sources

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