One of the things I love most about wine is its ability to preserve memories—bottled reminders of time and place, waiting to be uncorked. That was certainly the case when I recently rediscovered a bottle of 2018 Boris Lisjak Izbrani Teran, tucked away in our wine stash. We brought it back from a trip to Slovenia a few years ago, where we’d toured one of the country’s most iconic landmarks—Bled Castle, dramatically perched above its glacial lake.

Inside the castle’s gift shop, a uniquely shaped bottle caught our eye. The clerk claimed it was exclusive to the shop (a bit of salesmanship, perhaps), but for a modest price, we figured it was a charming souvenir from a memorable day. We had no idea it would later serve as a portal back to Slovenia—when this month’s World Wine Travel theme, “Lesser Known Wine Regions of the World,” gave us the perfect excuse to finally open it.

That trip was also our introduction to Slovenian wine. While exploring Ljubljana, the country’s picturesque capital, we enjoyed a few excellent bottles over leisurely meals and were struck by the nation’s dedication to native grapes, sustainable practices, and honest expressions of place. Teran, we would come to learn, is one such wine.

Slovenian Wine at a Glance

Though it may not be top of mind for many wine lovers, Slovenia boasts a winemaking tradition that stretches back over 2,500 years—well before the Romans arrived. Today, the country is home to a dynamic, quality-focused wine culture rooted in tradition yet driven by innovation.

Slovenia’s vinous landscape is defined by three primary winegrowing regions:

• Podravje in the northeast, is known for its high-acid, cool-climate whites.
• Primorska, in the west along the Italian border, benefits from both Alpine and Mediterranean influences to produce structured, mineral-driven wines.
• Posavje, in the south-central zone, is home to traditional field blends and native varieties like Modra Frankinja (Blaufränkisch) and Šmarnica.

Among these, Primorska stands out for its expressive wines and deep cultural ties to neighboring Italy. Italian influence is evident not only in the local food and wine traditions but also in architecture and everyday life. The region is officially bilingual, with both Slovene and Italian used in legal and administrative contexts, as well as in schools.

Within Primorska lies Kras (also known as the Karst), a rugged limestone plateau near the Adriatic Sea. This unique terroir is the birthplace of Teran, a bold red wine made from a local mutation of Refosco that thrives in the region’s iron-rich terra rossa soils.Modra Frankinja and Šmarnica.

Why It’s Called Teran

Teran might appear to be just another name for Refosco, a dark-skinned grape family native to northeastern Italy and surrounding regions. But the Teran of Slovenia’s Karst Plateau is a distinct local mutation, shaped by generations of cultivation in the region’s wind-swept, iron-rich terra rossa soils.

These vibrant red soils—combined with limestone bedrock and the area’s shifting coastal climate—create a wine that is unmistakably of its place: deeply colored, bracingly acidic, and marked by flavors of sour cherry, cranberry, dried herbs, and a signature iron-minerality.

Importantly, “Teran” is not just a varietal name—it’s a protected designation under Slovenian and EU law, reserved exclusively for wine made from this local Refosco biotype grown in the Kras region. That distinction has sparked international disputes (notably with Croatia), but for Slovenians, it’s about preserving a centuries-old cultural heritage in a bottle.

Meet the Producer: Boris Lisjak Winery

Tucked into the heart of the Kras region, the Boris Lisjak winery is a family-run estate with generations of history in Teran production. Boris Lisjak, a seventh-generation vintner, is widely regarded as one of the region’s foremost interpreters of Teran, committed to honoring its terroir while embracing thoughtful innovation.

The Lisjak family farms their vineyards sustainably, focusing on hand-harvesting and traditional techniques like native yeast fermentation. Their vines grow in terra rossa soils that lend the wines their unmistakable structure and mineral core. With each vintage, they aim to reflect not just the grape—but the rugged land and culture from which it springs.

2018 Boris Lisjak Izbrani Teran

The label reads Izbrani Teran PTP, which translates to “Selected Teran” under the Protected Traditional Designation. “Izbrani” signals a higher-tier expression of this place-driven wine.

Tasting note: Medium ruby color with plum, blackberry, black cherry, bramble, dried herbs, and a hint of dried rose aromas. On the palate, it’s on the lighter side of medium bodied with lively acidity and fine grained tannins with plum sauce, blackberry, black cherry, dark chocolate and dried herb flavors. A distinctive iron-tinged minerality courses through the wine, grounding its fruit and giving it a savory edge.\ 12.5% abv| SRP – 15 Euros

Pair with: Proscuitto, Grano Padano or Parmigiano-Reggiano cheeses, Osso Buco, Porchetta, or Beef Stew with Polenta. For meatless options consider Risotto with Wild Mushrooms, or Polenta with Mushroom Sauce.

Final Thoughts

While I haven’t yet made it to Slovenia’s Karst region, opening this bottle of 2018 Boris Lisjak Izbrani Teran brought back vivid memories of our time in the country—from the fairytale setting of Lake Bled and its eponymous lake to the charming cafés and cobbled streets of Ljubljana. Tasting this wine offered a deeper connection to a place I already found captivating, and a glimpse into a lesser-known yet deeply rooted corner of its winemaking heritage. It’s a reminder that wine isn’t just about what’s in the glass—it’s about discovery, memory, and the places yet to be explored.

If you’re a wine enthusiast eager to explore regions beyond the usual, be sure to check out these lesser-known areas uncovered by my fellow #WorldWineTravel writers!:

• Robin from Crushed Grape Chronicles dishes on “Liechtenstein, Valle d’Aosta and the Umpqua Valley – a few wine regions you may not be familiar with.”
• Jennifer from Vino Travels posts “Blaufränkisch of Upstate New York’s Finger Lakes Region.”
• Gwendolyn from Wine Predator showcases “Discovering Virginia Wine + Cuisine via the Governor’s Cup Case 2025: 3 Red Blends with Ham, Gratin, Greens.”
• Cathie from Side Hustle Vino adds “Off The Beaten Vineyard in Guanajuato, Mexico.”
• Andrea from The Quirky Cork brings “Greece’s Most Ancient Grape Finds a Home on the Slopes of Meliton.”
• Camilla from Culinary Cam writes “Rkatsiteli: An Ancient Grape from the Oldest Wine-Producing Region on Earth.”
• Terri from Our Good Life joins with “New-to-Me Wine Region: Affinitas Sárga Muskotály in Hungary.”
• Wendy from A Day in the Life On The Farm pens “Sipping a Chardonnay from the Finger Lakes Area.”
• Susannah at Avvinare writes about “Discovering Brda in Slovenia.”

Sources and resources:

• Winesearcher.com; Slovene Wine