Dolenjska

The Dolenjska wine-growing area has the same name as the Dolenjska geographical unit, but is much smaller. It covers only those areas where the conditions are still right for vines to thrive. It consists of small hills separated by valleys with streams running through them. There are many wine producers in this relatively large area, but they produce wine only for their own needs. Of the more than 7 000 wine growers, only a few dozen are involved in wine production as an economic activity.

Compared to Bizeljsko-Sremic and Beła krajina, Dolenjska is slightly closer to the Alps and therefore has a slightly cooler continental climate, which is a mixture of alpine and pannonian climate with very cold winters and warm summers. The soils are very varied. The most widespread are sandy-laminate and clayey.

Dolenjska is the land of cviček, and the varietal selection is therefore adapted to it. The most widespread varieties are žametna črnina, modra frankinja, welschriesling, kraljevina, rumeni plavec, pinot white and chardonnay.

Cviček is one of the few wines in the EU made from both white and red varieties. It is never a high quality wine in itself, as winemakers are already restricted by legislation from achieving better quality. It can be dry with a minimum of 8.5% and a maximum of 10% alcohol.
It is made from 40-50% žametne črnine, 15-20% modre frankinje, 10-15% kraljevine, 10% welschriesling and up to 15% of other permitted varieties.

The greatest progress is seen in modra frankinja and sparkling wines.