Occupying 72km² of rolling hills between the Soča River and Italian border, Brda is one of Slovenia's foremost wine-growing areas and only an hour's drive from Ljubljana. Often described as a miniature version of Tuscany, every hill seems to be topped with a large church (there are actually only 30 in all) surrounded by a charming little village, while the hillsides and valleys in between are blanketed with vineyards, orchards and winding country roads. Aside from a few larger estates and one cooperative, most of the vineyards are smaller family-run operations, and almost all offer some combination of wine tastings, tours, meals, accommodation and of course wine sales. The region is also known for its traditional Italian-influenced cuisine, and a trip to Brda without enjoying a slow multi-course meal on a terrace overlooking the vineyards almost defeats the entire purpose. The tourist information office at Dobrovo Castle is well-stocked with multi-lingual maps, brochures and other literature, and a great place to start for first-time visitors.   [...]

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Located in the unassuming village of Višnjevik, the Erzetič winery offers one of the more unique wine tasting experiences in the Brda region. Dating back to 1725, the family-run estate produces up to 80,000 bottles per year - several varieties of which have been decorated at internnational competitions, including the prestigious Decanter World Wine Awards. They're also one of only two wineries in Slovenia to produce wine using large ceramic vases called amphoras - which were specially-built in in Georgia and give the wine a very distinctive earthy flavour. [...]

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First appearing in the local land registry back in the 19th century and covering some 32 hectares of terraced vineyards today, Vrhunska Vina Simčič is one of the oldest and largest wineries in Brda. They produce a wide variety of white and red wines including Rebula, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Sauvignon among the former and Merlot, Chabernet Sauvignon and Refošk (the so-called King of Reds) among the latter. Tours and tastings are available for both individuals and larger groups, but it's always best to call at least a few days in advance to make arrangements.  [...]

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