by Robert Gorjak
Things did not start well for the Slovenian vintners in the spring of 2006. It was cool and damp all over the country - and vegetation two weeks late. June and July
were hot and dry. In less well managed vineyards vines showed little vigour. August brought another surprise, with unusually low temperature and high rainfall. September, though, was perfectly warm and dry.
Harvest began rather early in the two first weeks of September in Primorska and somewhat latter in Podravje. As sugar levels in grapes then rose dramatically, the window for the picking was quite narrow. In Primorska first reports speak of fresh and elegant whites, with the reds being high in sugar and tannins but with balanced acidity. In Podravje, where more than 95% of the wines are white, growers expect a classic vintage with varietal appeal and serious complexity, especially for Riesling. While quantity in Podravje it is just slightly below average, it is down about 30% in Primorska.
