Wines of the North Adriatic

29/10/2025

THE NORTH ADRIATIC:
The North Adriatic is one of the world's most fascinating wine regions. It is very versatile, it gives some of the most wonderful white wines of Europe, but also great reds and very interesting sweet wines with a long history. A part of Europe's most important wine history is here. Think of Burgundy, and Bordeaux: they are important, but the North Adriatic has the same importance for the international wine world.
This year we made a fantastic tour through the region with wonderful visits to Collio, Brda, Colli Orientali, Vipava valley, Isonzo, Aquileia, and in Istria both the Slovenian and the Croatian part. It was a huge travel but with great memories (see photos).
Read here the two interesting articles by Kazumi Uejo who writes for the Dutch Wine Apprentice:
https://dutchwineapprentice.com/the-north-adriatic-where.../
and part 2:
https://dutchwineapprentice.com/the-north-adriatic-a.../

16/07/2025

Dopo un primo assaggio del Brda raccontato qui: prosegue il nostro viaggio nei territori dell’Alto Adriatico ospiti dell’organizzatore dell’evento Paul Balke con prima tappa il territorio di Friuli Colli Orientali. Lasciamo Medana e torniamo in Italia quasi senza accorgecene con direzione Manz...

16/07/2025

Interesting article by Pino Perrone about COLLI ORIENTALI.
Great wines!

Dopo un primo assaggio del Brda raccontato qui: prosegue il nostro viaggio nei territori dell’Alto Adriatico ospiti dell’organizzatore dell’evento Paul Balke con prima tappa il territorio di Friuli Colli Orientali. Lasciamo Medana e torniamo in Italia quasi senza accorgecene con direzione Manz...

19/05/2025

SLOVENIAN ISTRIA
Slovenia has 43 km of coastline. It is a highly interesting wine region. The only thing is that almost nobody knows... The potential is great here.

Read more here:
https://paulbalke.com/slovenian-istria/
Another super interesting part of the NORTH ADRIATIC! Read more about it in my book, available at paulbalke.com

PHOTO TOP: During the fantastic tasting with wineries from Slovenian Istria. From left to right: Matej Korenika with his wife, Uros Rojac, Mojca Bordon, Santomas winery, Rok Razman, Ingrid Mahnic. Always forgotten because the tourists drive directly to Croatia. And always forgotten because too close...

27/03/2025

Excellent article by American journalist Deborah Parker Wong in Sommelier Journal.
The North Adriatic is one of Europe´s most exciting wine regions, situated in three countries: Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia.
A region rich in wines of the highest quality and purity, full of dynamic, young, and interesting producers.

READ:

story and photos by Deborah Parker Wong Standing  in Transalpine Square in the town center of Nova Gorica, Slovenia, with one foot in Slovenia and the other in Italy, I marked the […]

14/01/2025

GO2025
in 25 days it will start: Nova Gorica-Gorizia Capital of Culture
1 river, 2 countries
1 town, that became 2 towns in 2 countries (in 1947)
Borders that changed and changed and changed...
A cultural journey in the center of the NORTH ADRIATIC!

07/01/2025

CAPITAL OF CULTURE: GORIZIA & NOVA GORICA: the center of the NORTH ADRIATIC

This BBC article (below) tells the story but does not tell everything! If you want to know why this region is one of the best in Europe for eating out, if you want to learn about the wines, history, or culture: my book NORTH ADRIATIC will tell you more about this fascinating region.

This is one of the world's most interesting wine regions. And, the multicultural kitchen, with Italian, German-Austrian, and Slavic influences, is fascinating.

The book is available via paulbalke.com or contact me via PM.



https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20241213-nova-gorica-europes-first-borderless-capital-of-culture?ocid=fbtvl&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR01j7r_eO4s7-jxDw_LOe3CoXdpU33Kl8IpY93mr8m4d1ePSI_7ncaocdk_aem_8APNq6WlOroW2xkH3Y58IA

In 1947, Gorizia was abruptly split between Italy and Slovenia. In 2025, the two towns will reunite as the first transnational European Capital of Culture.

26/09/2024

TOP-story today in the World of Fine Wine Magazine: a wonderful review by Caroline Gilby about my book North Adriatic:
" Balke offers an admirable depth of research, especially into the history, landscape, and cultural background of the region. His book also gives thoughtful insights into how political borders interrupt identity."
"this is an important reference work that brings welcome attention to a dynamic and exciting part of the wine world that deserves more recognition."

Many thanks Caroline Gilby!

Caroline Gilby MW reviews North Adriatic: Friuli Venezia Giulia – West Slovenia – Istria – Kvarner by Paul Balke.

25/09/2024

Brda Home of Rebula: one of the most intriguing and exciting wine events I know. Very well organized and a fantastic way to get to know the beautiful Brda area and to get an impression of the cross-border wine Rebula - also called Ribolla Gialla.
The territory has a strong cross-border aspect, being the result of a division made in 1947: this aspect makes it all even more interesting. Rebula gives identity to this territory (even if there are many more great wines). Compliment to the producers who have created this fantastic event!
It is one of the most central areas of the NORTH ADRIATIC.

Want to read more about Brda, Rebula and the context? in my book NORTH ADRIATIC you find it all.

03/09/2024

During our visit to the Vipava valley we had our wine tasting in castle Rihemberk: they have created a small scale model of the castle and around it the tasting room. Very nicely done!

The Vipava valley is a wonderful area in the North Adriatic territory, situated in Slovenia, right east of Gorizia (IT). Rihemberk is part of the territory of Nova Gorica, in the western part of the valley. The valley is 70 km long and has a special, authentic ambience and you can find very interesting local wines like Zelen, Pinela, and even the very rare grape variety Polsjakica is now available from some producers! Follow my posts for more information about this area.

More information in my book NORTH ADRIATIC!

19/08/2024

An important book for all wine lovers: North Adriatic.
One terroir, three countries.
One of the world's most important wine territories!

for more information: paulbalke.com