http://www.ijs.si/vinoteke.html (World Wide Web Directory, ~04/1995)

Vinoteke (Specialized wine shops)

Where to sample and buy wines in Slovenia

If a good wine with a good meal is the objective, most restaurants in Slovenia offer large selections of quality wines, though many will tend to favour wines from particular regions or producers. If only the best will do and the cost is immaterial, wine archives are the best places to buy Slovenian wines. On the other hand, it pays to visit some of the whole-sale depots of the larger wine producers, e.g., Vinag, Vinakoper, Vipava, Goriska brda (all major cities have them and the addresses can be found in the yellow pages) -- the salesperson will gladly sell even one case (12 bottles), half-case or just one bottle at whole-sale prices.

But if one wishes to browse through a truly large selection, and maybe even sample the wine before buying, the right places are specialized wine shops -- "vinoteka" is the Slovene word and these can be found in all major cities and resorts. For the purpose of this presentation, let us mention just a few. Vinoteka Bradesko, located at the City Fairground in Ljubljana certainly offers the largest selection of wines in Slovenia. The caretaker invests all the effort to collect the wines of numerous small producers and all the champion wines are available as a matter of course. Besides the wine shop, Vinoteka Bradesko also has a tasting bar where almost all the wines on sale can be sampled; and if you prefer to do your sampling with a good meal, there is also a restaurant on the premises. For a truly memorable evening, reserve a table, select your meal and chose a selection of wines to sample during the hors d'oeuvre; order a bottle of the one you like most for your main course.

The oldest Vinoteka is in the Water Tower (Vodni Stolp) in the center of Maribor. The shop is on the ground floor and the choice is good though this Vinoteka does tend to favour the wines from Podravska region. But the true attraction of Vodni Stolp is on the top floor: a large, round hall with high ceiling, somehow reminiscent of a medieval banquet hall -- dedicated only to wine tasting. There is no choice of food, just plates of neutral-tasting cheese and bread to cleanse the palate between wines. The service is highly professional: you may chose your own wines -- but it is better to let the waiter make the selection, grading the flavors and bouquets for maximum enjoyment. Your party should visit Vodni Stolp an hour or two before lunch or dinner, select a 5 or 7 wine presentation, complete the tasting with a glass of one of the great sparkling wines (great appetizers) of the region and then walk to one of Maribor's great restaurants, for a perfect meal (accompanied by a bottle of great wine, of course).

miso