Tabor Hosts the Festival of Autochthonous and Local Wine Varieties of the Vipava Valley

16. 06. 2026

Today, the historic setting of Tabor nad Dornberkom played host to the Festival of Autochthonous and Local Wine Varieties of the Vipava Valley. Organised by the Consortium of Winemakers of the Vipava Valley (Zavod Konzorcij vinarjev Vipavske doline) in cooperation with KZ Dornberk and supported by the "Potarjeva hiša" LAS project, the outdoor event brought together approximately 70 experts, winemakers, and distinguished guests.

The festival kicked off with traditional hospitality: the local Women of Dornberk (Žene iz Dornberk), dressed in authentic national costumes, welcomed attendees with coffee served in antique cups alongside homemade pastries.

Following opening greetings by Anton Harej and State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food (MKGP) Mojca Erjavec, who highlighted the critical link between local gastronomy, agriculture, and landscape preservation, the event opened its featured Round Table. Moderated by journalist Sašo Dravinec, the panel discussion brought together leading researchers, government officials, and local winemakers—including Dr. Klemen Lisjak (Agricultural Institute of Slovenia), Dr. Lorena Butinar (University of Nova Gorica), Andreja Škvarč (KGZS Nova Gorica), Nika Gregorič (MKGP), Aleksander Mladovan (OOZ Nova Gorica), and local winemakers Stanka Berce, Tea Čebron, and Primož Čotar.

A Culinary Celebration of Vipava Valley Heritage

Following the round table, attendees moved to a guided wine and food pairing experience led by professional sommelier Martin Gruzovin. Out of 33 submitted local wine samples, experts carefully pre-selected 14 top wines to accompany a specially crafted 5-course gourmet menu. Prepared by HIT head chef Matjaž Šinigoj and his team, each course was uniquely named after traditional local homesteads of Tabor.

The successful gathering underscored the rich viticultural identity of the Vipava Valley, leaving attendees with lasting impressions and a shared vision to make the festival a recurring tradition.

Brochures titled "Lokalne sorte vinske trte – Vipavska dolina" by Andreja Škvarč, featuring a vine leaf illustration on a white cover.

A book by Anselm Grün titled "Vino – darilo neba in zemlje" displayed alongside copies of a local wine variety publication.

Photo exhibition and informational posters about local grapevine varieties hung with wooden pegs along a stone wall.

A group of local women from Dornberk in traditional attire standing behind a table filled with coffee, traditional cakes, and pastries outdoors.

Close-up of a catering table with traditional potica cake, sliced pastries, a vase of fresh flowers, and a coffee thermos on an embroidered tablecloth.

Antique porcelain coffee pots, creamer jugs, and floral teacups arranged on a table for serving beverages.

Guests gathering and socializing outdoors in a stone village alleyway in Tabor next to a set panel discussion table.

State Secretary Mojca Erjavec conversing with a man in a white shirt outside a rustic stone building during the event.

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