“A walk through the Paradise Valley – from the vineyard brunch to the palaces”

We have completed organising the last presentation event of the EU Project My Project 2024 competition titled “A walk through the Paradise Valley – from the vineyard brunch to the palaces” is now behind us. The event was organised on Saturday, 16 November, to showcase the wine and culinary specialities of the Vipava Valley and its cultural and historical sites. The focus was on sustainable tourism, connecting local communities and promoting the area’s rich heritage. It attracted many visitors from various parts of Slovenia, including Prebold, Logatec, Postojna and other places. The event achieved its purpose with an interesting programme combining historical stories, culinary experiences, and wine specialities and exceeded the participants’ expectations.

The event began in front of the “House of the Alexandrian Women” in Prvačina. The hosts and participants were addressed by the Vice-Mayor of the Municipality of Nova Gorica, Mr Anton Harej, who stressed the importance of sustainable tourism and the preservation of cultural heritage. He spoke about the integration of natural and cultural heritage in the Vipava Valley and highlighted points such as the House of the Alexandrian Women, Rihemberk Castle and the vineyard terraces. Mr Črtomir Špacapan, Director of the Regional Development Agency SEVERNA PRIMORSKA d.o.o., welcomed all participants on behalf of the broad partnership in the “ENOTOUR 2” project. Nova Gorica, Lead Partner.

In the first part, guests were introduced to the House of the Alexandrian Women and its rich history. Ms Lojza (played by Ms Andrejka Humar) from the Association for the Preservation of the Cultural Heritage of the Alexandrian Women gave the visitors a detailed outline of the stories of the Alexandrian women – girls who went to work in Egypt. Over coffee, she presented their lives and challenges, moving the visitors and deepening their understanding of this unique heritage.

After the visit to the museum, the participants continued their journey to Zalošče to the railway bridge, from where they went on a short hike through the vineyard terraces to the vineyards in B’rnadovce, which were hospitably opened by the owners, Radivoj Lisjak and Matej Žabar. During the hike among the terraces, experts presented the unique composition of the soil in this area of the Vipava Valley and its effects on the quality of Vipava wines. On a sunny hillside overlooking the valley, visitors enjoyed a traditional wine-grower’s snack prepared in the Primula tavern, brought and served by the farmers9 wives from Dornberk. This relaxed part of the event brought together nature, gastronomy and knowledge.

On the way through Branik to Rihemberk Castle, participants could observe the rich wine-growing landscape. At the castle gates, the visitors were greeted, welcomed and taken back to the time of medieval legends by the castle lords – the castle lady (played by Ms Bojana Čibej) and the castle lord (played by Mr Luka Luzar). The largest castle in western Slovenia, the Rihemberk Castle fascinated the participants with its rich history and architecture, and they learnt many interesting stories and poems from its past.

The final part of the event took place at the farm Profesorjevi owned by Tadej Pavlica from Dornberk, where the achievements and objectives of the “ENOTOUR 2” project were presented. Mr Anton Harej, Vice-Mayor of the Municipality of Nova Gorica, gave a detailed presentation of the progress and achievements of the “ENOTOUR 2” project, followed by a presentation and tasting of the selected wines. The expert guided the tasting of the consortium wines of the “VIPAVSKA DOLINA – Terase Izbrano” label, which was conducted by Mr Gregor Bandelj. The wine and culinary experience was provided by representatives of the Vipava Valley Consortium. Thus, the participants tasted top-quality wines produced on the terraces of Vipava, combined with selected local snacks, during a guided tasting of three wine samples.

The event “A walk through the Paradise Valley – from the vineyard brunch to the palaces” successfully presented the Vipava Valley as a destination with an exceptional culinary, wine and cultural offer.

Through the cooperation of various partners, the event proved that the Vipava Valley is a place where tradition and modernity are intertwined in a unique experience.

Report prepared by:

Anton Harej, Vice-Mayor of the Municipality of Nova Gorica

Amelia Skomina, LAG V objemu sunca, Managing Partner Regional Development Agency SEVERNA PRIMORSKA d.o.o. Nova Gorica