Slovenia and Croatia

Question 1

Slovenia is the wealthiest and most modernized nation to emerge from what?

Answer 1

the wreckage of Tito’s Yugoslavia

Question 2

When did Slovenia join the EU?

Answer 2

2004 and is a rapidly improving producer of wine

Question 3

What are the 3 regions of Slovenia?

Answer 3

1. Primorska (Primorje) borders Friuli in Italy
2. Podravje is in the extreme northeast
3. Posavje lines Slovenia’s eastern border with Croatia

Question 4

What is the Slovenia’s best region for both red and white wine?

Answer 4

Primorska

Question 5

What is Primorska subdivided into?

Answer 5

1. Goriska Brda
2. Kras
3. Koper
4. Vipava

Question 6

The proximity to Friuli is clear in Primorska, what becomes Collio Goriziano across the Italian border?

Answer 6

Goriska Brda (“Brda” translates to “hills”)

Question 7

The proximity to Friuli is clear in Primorska, what becomes Carso across the Italian border?

Answer 7

Kras

Question 8

What is the climate of Primoska?

Answer 8

mild, Mediterranean-influenced climate is similar to that in Friuli

Question 9

Who has has to cross the border to harvest nearly half of his vineyards in Slovenia?

Answer 9

Ales Kristancic of Movia, Slovenia’s star producer

Question 10

Movia’s contemporary and aesthetic kin, ____ , has to cross the Slovenian border to access some of his vineyards as well.

Answer 10

Josko Gravner

Question 11

The varieties are simply renamed in Slovenia: Refosco becomes__; Ribolla Gialla becomes__; Pinot Grigio becomes __.

Answer 11

Refosk, Rebula, Sivi Pinot

Question 12

What International varietals are common in Primoska?

Answer 12

Cabernet grapes and Merlot

Question 13

What other indigenous varieties persist in Primoska?

Answer 13

the white Pinela and Zelen (a relative of Verduzzo Gialla)

Question 14

What is Slovenia’s largest region?

Answer 14

Podravje

Question 15

How many subzones does Podravje hold?

Answer 15

7 and primarily produces white wines

Question 16

What varietals comprise Podravje’s varietal bottlings?

Answer 16

Laski Rizling (Welschriesling), Diseci Traminer (Gewürztraminer), Renski Rizling (Riesling), Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc

Question 17

What region is third in production?

Answer 17

Posavje, with slightly more than half of Primorska’s total acreage under vine

Question 18

Posavje borders what Croatian region?

Answer 18

The Inland region, which is characterized overwhelmingly by white wine production

Question 19

What grape is cultivated in over half of Crotaians Inland region vineyards?

Answer 19

Grasevina (Laski Rizling)

Question 20

The coast of Croatia stretches from where to where?

Answer 20

the Italian border southward

Question 21

The coast of Croatia includes what 2 noncontiguous zones?

Answer 21

Istria and Dalmatia

Question 22

What is dominant on the coast of Croatia?

Answer 22

White wine

Question 23

Interest in what red grapes are on the rise on the coast of Croatia?

Answer 23

red Bordeaux varietals and the native Crljenak Kastelanski (Zinfandel) and its offshoot Plavac Mali

Question 24

Mike Grgich, legendary Napa Valley winemaker and a native Croatian, produces what in Croatia?

Answer 24

Plavac Mali wines at his Grgic Vina estate in the Dingac subzone of Dalmatia

Question 25

Mike Grgich’s personal recollection of Croatia’s coastal vineyards was the impetus that led what?

Answer 25

UC Davis’ Carole Meredith to establish the definitive correlation between Zinfandel and Crljanek