Climate

WARM, SUNNY DAYS AND COLD NIGHTS DURING THE GRAPE RIPENING PERIOD

The climate in the wine region of Štajerska Slovenia is continental, with warm and hot summers and cold winters. The influence of the Alps, the Pannonian Plain, and partially the Adriatic Sea is strong. The climate becomes warmer as you move from west to east.

On average, between 900 and 1100 mm of precipitation falls annually, which is more than enough for the undisturbed growth of the vines. During the growing season, precipitation is well distributed. Drought is not usually a problem, except in very dry years in young vineyards on sandy soils. Snow falls every winter, although there has been considerably less of it in recent seasons compared to the past.

Frost is possible. Winter frost is very rare, but spring frost is becoming increasingly dangerous and common due to mild winters and earlier bud break. Hail occurs frequently, almost every year, but fortunately only affects a small part of the region.

In addition to the frequent mild winds throughout the year, sunny days and cold nights during the grape ripening period are crucial for the character of the wine, as they allow the acids and aromatic compounds formed during ripening to be excellently preserved. Morning fogs in September and October are favorable for the development of noble rot and the production of wines of exceptional quality. Temperatures can drop below freezing as early as November, which also allows for the production of ice wine.

SOIL

LIGHT, WELL-DRAINED, NOT OVERLY RICH SOILS. IDEAL FOR GRAPEVINES.

Soil has a significant influence on the character of a wine. The parent material in the vineyards of Štajerska is not uniform. Marl and calcareous sandstone predominate, along with schist, gneiss and tonalite. This diverse parent material accentuates the differences between the wines of the Štajerska sub-regions, which are noticeable and fascinating to discover.

Whatever the parent material, the soils in vineyard sites across Štajerska are deep, airy and well-drained enough for the vine to thrive and produce harmonious wines with a pronounced bouquet.

They can change within just a few metres on a single vineyard site. This makes the winegrower's work somewhat more complicated, but at the same time it allows for differences in ripeness and aromatic profile, and consequently for more varied and complex wines. Near the tops of the hills, sandy soils mostly prevail. Towards the foot of the hill they become increasingly heavy, as the proportion of clay in them grows.

In Štajerska, the vine grows exclusively on sloping terrain, with a gradient that can reach 40% or more. Soils on flat land are poorly drained, exposed to spring frosts and generally too rich for the proverbially modest grapevine.

On sloping terrain, erosion and landslides are a problem. To prevent erosion and make cultivation easier, the vineyards are grassed. On the steepest slopes, especially in Haloze and Jeruzalem, vineyards are often planted on terraces.