The Area of Wine, Birch Trees and Ferns

It is well known that such notable wine region of Slovenia as the Goriška Brda wine county has recently boomed as the major tourist destinations of the country. However, few are aware of the vineyard-covered hills above Metlika in the southeastern region of Bela Krajina. Those tourists who take a chance of visiting this beautiful land are rewarded with an appealing landscape of gentle beauty. Metlika offers its guests the views of extensive vineyards and fragrant woods, as well as authentic tiny vineyard cottages, in which wine was traditionally produced and stored. Such a cottage is called ‘zidanica.’ Currently, the majority of these cottages have been transformed into vacation houses. However, some of them still managed to preserve their original appearance and the spirit of the old times. Today, many tourist come here to taste the Metliška Črnina award-winning local wine, which is a mix of a number of wine varieties locally grown in Bela Krajina. A typical local specialty ‘lamb roasted on a spit’ goes well with the Metliška Črnina wine of designated origin. Besides wine, the Metlika territory attracts tourists with its unique features of the local landscape—the ancient areas of birch trees and ferns, which are locally called ‘steljniki.’ It is best to explore the beauties of Metlika slowly using the local Vidošiči Bike Trail service, which combines the most picturesque villages, vineyards, wineries and woods of the region.

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