Goriška Brda

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The Goriška Brda area is built from Eocene flysch sediments, which are somewhat younger in origin than those of Vipavska dolina; flysch belongs among the carbonate rocks.
• On flysch soils, characteristic soil types have developed, including rendzina and brown saturated soils, which have a relatively deep soil profile of over 60 cm, good structure, and high biological activity.
• The area has a distinctive transitional climate, as it is open to the west, from where moderate Mediterranean influences arrive from the sea across the Goriška plain and meet with continental influences.
• The Bora in Goriška Brda is not as strong as in Vipavska dolina, as the ridge of Sabotin protects Brda from the north; however, there is a risk of spring frosts, which can occur as late as May.
• Goriška Brda receives the highest incidence of hail in the Primorska wine region.

• Grapes of certain varieties, such as Rebula and Chardonnay, are harvested at optimal ripeness and then dried on straw or in wooden crates in the attic until December or January.
• Most vineyards are on terraces in the hilly terrain of Brda, and the vines are hand-defoliated so that each cluster is turned twice before harvest.

• When malolactic fermentation takes place during or immediately after alcoholic fermentation and the wine matures in barrel, the wines are soft, full, harmonious, and true to variety, and are also suitable for ageing.
• When malolactic fermentation does not take place, the malic acid remains present, lending the wine freshness and fruitiness, while the varietal bouquet is strongly expressed.

• High temperatures during the ripening period accelerate the drop in acidity, so the acidity levels in wines from Goriška Brda range from 3.5 to 6.5 g/l.
• Low rainfall and the influence of the Mediterranean climate, with temperatures reaching up to 37 °C during the ripening period, contribute to grapes achieving high sugar levels of between 20 and 25 Brix, resulting in higher alcohol levels and a rich mineral foundation in the wines.

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-A0270
• Official trade body site — Klet Brda z.o.o. (Vinska klet Goriška Brda)