Where to for the weekend? Orange wine in Izola and hiking in the Brdo region

24. april 2014 ob 18.57 • Izola - MMC RTV SLO

Izola

If you still don't have any plans for the end of the week and are a lover of wine, we recommend you visit one of the two bigger wine-culinary festivals in the Goriška Brda-Primorska region. You can then wrap up your visit on Sunday with a hike along the Alpe-Adria footpath.

On Friday you can start in Izola. The Manzioli square (and palace) will host the third Orange Wine Festival, one of the biggest of its kind in the world. 59 winemakers from six countries will present more than 150 naturally macerated wines (including wines from Georgia which are considered ancient). Apart from that some 20 culinary establishments will also present themselves, from Skaručna and the Klinec homestead, to Zemono and Fonda.

"The Orange Wine Festival brings together winemakers returning to the Earth and tradition. In our production we've put a stop to the excessive use of chemicals offered by multi-national companies. The Izola festival is a nice opportunity for like-minded winemakers to present themselves to other wine lovers, to socialize and strengthen friendships and alliances," is what the Istrian winemaker Uroš Rojac said at thepress conference. He took part in both of the previous festival events in Izola, as well as at the autumn repeat events in Vienna.

The festival of orange wines, which are considered "the fourth" wine colour, will begin at 14.30h with an opening ceremony at the Church of St. Maria Alietska. The wine tasting will take place at the Manzioli square and Manzioli palace between 15h and 21h.

Brda and wine
Wine, and its accompanying culinary, will also be honoured in the Goriška Brda region. The traditional “Brda in vino” event in Šmartno will see 28 winemakers from the region, including names like Simčič, Ščurek, Radikon and Movia. Festival visitors will also be able to try a number of spring dishes and food from Goriška Brda, as well as the local olive oil.

Food will be provided by top local caterers (Belica, Hiša Marica), “heavyweights” from the Goriška Brda region (Dam, Pikol) as well as guests from neighboring Italy (Joško Sirk's Michelin star awarded La Subida) and Ljubljana (the JB restaurant).

Entry for the first day, on Saturday, will cost 45 euros and includes food and wine tasting. The program for Day 1 will last from 12:00h to 20.00h. On the second day of the festival top chefs will be replaced by local producers and farmers at the market of local goods. Entry then will be free of charge.