Tasting Wines And Sparkling Wines In Gornja Radgona

Gornja Radgona is a small town on the right bank of the Mura, in the Pomurje region of northeastern Slovenia, directly across the river from the Austrian town of Bad Radkersburg. The two towns were one place until the borders were drawn after the First World War, and today they are linked by a pedestrian bridge, the Steirer Bridge, so a walk takes you from one country to the other. Gornja Radgona is known throughout Slovenia as the home of sparkling wine and as the seat of a large agricultural fair, and the vineyards on the hills behind the town, the Radgonske gorice, belong to the wine region of Štajerska.

The wine tradition of the area is long. The slopes above the Mura face south and east, the climate is warm in summer and cool at night, and the soils suit white grapes, so the region is known for fresh, aromatic white wines. Typical varieties include Laški rizling, Šipon, Rhine Riesling, Sauvignon and Chardonnay, along with Pinot grapes, and they are made into still wines of different styles. Gornja Radgona has a special place in the history of Slovenian sparkling wine, with large cellars built in the nineteenth century where wine is made by the traditional method, in which the second fermentation takes place in the bottle, and the town's sparkling wines have won recognition at home and abroad. Cellars under the town and in the hills are used to age the bottles.

Tasting is the way to get to know all this. Visitors can arrange tastings at wineries and cellars in the town and the villages of the Radgonske gorice, ranging from simple tastings of a few wines to longer sessions with food. Guides usually explain how the grapes are grown, how the wine is made and how sparkling wine is produced and aged, and visitors can see the bottles in racks and learn about riddling and disgorgement. Many family wineries also offer snacks of local cured meats, cheese and bread, and some have a tourist farm with rooms. It is wise to book ahead, since small cellars work by appointment, and to arrange a driver or a taxi, as the roads are winding.

The surroundings add to the pleasure. The hills are covered with vineyards and dotted with wine cottages, there are cycling routes along the Mura and through the vines, and the thermal spas of Banovci and Radenci and the other sights of Pomurje are within easy reach. The Steirer Bridge to Bad Radkersburg gives an easy excursion to Austria.

The experience suits wine lovers, couples and groups of friends. Late summer and autumn, with the grape harvest, are the most atmospheric times, but cellars welcome visitors through the year.