Ljutomer-ormož Wine

Ljutomer-Ormoz wine district in the Podravje Wine Region: Podravje, is in one of Slovenia’s largest winegrowing regions and for centuries has produced some of the most prestigious wines in Slovenia. The area is well known for its aromatic whites and particularly for its late harvest and Muskat wines. This area is part of the ancient Carpathian basin, also known as the Pannonian Plain, which is an old ancient sea that stretched across several countries and today provides fertile soils that are ideal for the production of rich, aromatic white wines. The best white wines of the region are similar to those grown in the Rhine and Mosel valleys. Due to the high acidity in the wines the white wines from this region age well if stored in ideal conditions. Most abundant varietals are Renski Rizling, Beli Pinot, Šipon, Kerner and Laski Rizling. Jeruzalem – Svetinje History in the heart of the Ljutomer-Ormoz wine district The Ljutomer-Ormož district includes the village of Jeruzalem which is also known for its exceptional white wines. Viticulture and winemaking in the area peaked during the time of the Austrian monarchy. The area of present day Jeruzalem Gorice Hills represents the largest winegrowing area from the then Austro-Hungarian Empire. It was the Romans who planted the first vineyards specifically in Jeruzalemsko-Svetinjske Gorice Hills. That was at a time when Slovenia’s oldest town Poetovio (today’s Ptuj) was the Roman Empire’s largest eastern stronghold. When Roman emperor Probus, tasted the local wine, he declared the province “Vinea nobilis districtis” (Noble Wine District). As the crusades moved into the land in the 11th century, winegrowing was preserved and the study of vines and wine took on an almost scientific nature. The people named the area Jeruzalem, the nearby hill Svetinje (Slovene for “sacred things”) and gave all the other hills the names of their apostles. – Description from Katy Bendel    (hide)