Wines of the North Adriatic

26/09/2024

TOP-story today in the World of Fine Wine Magazine: a wonderful review by Caroline Gilby about my book North Adriatic:
" Balke offers an admirable depth of research, especially into the history, landscape, and cultural background of the region. His book also gives thoughtful insights into how political borders interrupt identity."
"this is an important reference work that brings welcome attention to a dynamic and exciting part of the wine world that deserves more recognition."

Many thanks Caroline Gilby!

Caroline Gilby MW reviews North Adriatic: Friuli Venezia Giulia – West Slovenia – Istria – Kvarner by Paul Balke.

25/09/2024

Brda Home of Rebula: one of the most intriguing and exciting wine events I know. Very well organized and a fantastic way to get to know the beautiful Brda area and to get an impression of the cross-border wine Rebula - also called Ribolla Gialla.
The territory has a strong cross-border aspect, being the result of a division made in 1947: this aspect makes it all even more interesting. Rebula gives identity to this territory (even if there are many more great wines). Compliment to the producers who have created this fantastic event!
It is one of the most central areas of the NORTH ADRIATIC.

Want to read more about Brda, Rebula and the context? in my book NORTH ADRIATIC you find it all.

03/09/2024

During our visit to the Vipava valley we had our wine tasting in castle Rihemberk: they have created a small scale model of the castle and around it the tasting room. Very nicely done!

The Vipava valley is a wonderful area in the North Adriatic territory, situated in Slovenia, right east of Gorizia (IT). Rihemberk is part of the territory of Nova Gorica, in the western part of the valley. The valley is 70 km long and has a special, authentic ambience and you can find very interesting local wines like Zelen, Pinela, and even the very rare grape variety Polsjakica is now available from some producers! Follow my posts for more information about this area.

More information in my book NORTH ADRIATIC!

19/08/2024

An important book for all wine lovers: North Adriatic.
One terroir, three countries.
One of the world's most important wine territories!

for more information: paulbalke.com

10/08/2024

MARE E VITOVSKA
This is one of the most unique and particular wine events. Seated high above the bay of Trieste, enjoying Vitovska wines with friends, listening to Slovenian- and Italian-speaking producers, enjoying the sunset with a great wine, and continue to enjoy. It is magic.
And all this in the North Adriatic.

Read more:
https://paulbalke.com/mare-e-vitovska-in-morje/

23/07/2024

Ales Marinic (producer of Vini Noue Marinic) shows one of the most beautiful photos in my book: in the background the same place: the Vedrijan hill in Goriska Brda.

Goriska Brda is a wonderful place, and does not stop to charm when you are driving or walking around and tasting the many wonderful wines.

More about it you can read in the book: NORTH ADRIATIC
For information: www.paulbalke.com

Credit for the photo in the book: Enrico Gatti from Udine.

18/05/2024

VINISTRA, POREC, MAY 2024
Vinistra is one of the important fairs of the North Adriatic, with seat in the beautiful town Porec.
Presentation of my new book NORTH ADRIATIC.
And there are many interesting wines, especially Malvasia or Malvazija (Istriana or Istarska). Malvasia is one of the most important grape varieties of the , it is produced everywhere: in Kvarner, Istria, on the Karst, in Vipava valley, in Collio, Brda, Colli Orientali, Isonzo, Grave, even near Pordenone. Therefore it is one of the most important varieties from the North Adriatic.

09/05/2024

Book presentation: NORTH ADRIATIC
Location: VINISTRA, POREC (HR)
Data: 11 May 2024 14:30 PM

19/04/2024

This week in the center of New York the region Friuli Venezia Giulia is present! More than 400.000 persons will view this message each day.
Do you know why it is named Friuli Venezia Giulia?
Do you want to learn more about this fascinating region?

Read my book North Adriatic! Here you can learn much about the region, its history, its gastronomy and its fantastic wines.

available at: www.paulbalke.com

09/04/2024

NORTH ADRIATIC
This book tells the story of the North Adriatic regions and their . With a wonderful design, and a lot of information.

Do you want to discover new and lesser known parts of Italy? Use this book and you will come across some of Italy´s most interesting wine regions! And directly across the border you will find regions in Slovenia and Croatia: they were all united in one country for many centuries. This story needs to be told!

Photo: Chapter 3 History: the photo shows the Duino Castle near Trieste, a historical place. These places played an enormous role in the development of our modern Europe and also in the development of our modern wine culture.
For more information: read the book.

The book is available at www.paulbalke.com

13/02/2024

NOVA GORICA & GORIZIA: 2025 EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE

The countdown has started! The two towns, situated at the Italian- Slovenian border have started the kick-off: these two towns share an interesting history and are an epicenter of what happened in Europe since 1945. The border between Jugoslavia and Italy was established in 1947 by the Paris Peace Treaty and the town Nova Gorica was built by Tito according to principles of modernist architecture.
Gorizia has conserved its picturesque center in Austrian- Habsburg style (photo ) that in part dates from late Middle Age.
Around both towns are the wonderful wine regions of Collio, Brda, Vipava and Karst.
Trieste is not far.

This is a beautiful multicultural region in the center of Europe!
READ MORE IN MY BOOK NORTH ADRIATIC
Available through paulbalke.com

29/01/2024

My new wine arrived in Naples!
A great wine and organic!

15/01/2024

Behind a great wine there is often a person with vision: that is the case with Coronica Gran Teran. Moreno Coronica produced the wine with a lot of passion, but also the patience to wait until the wine is ready: in the wine market of this moment this patience is a problem because too many wines are sold too young. Fortunately there is Coronica Gran Teran: a fantastic discovery for lovers of great wine!

And it shows that Istria (Croatia) has fantastic potential for good red wines, wines that are strong but elegant and can compete with other important red wines (without always to have to use the same grape...Merlot ...).



READ:
https://paulbalke.com/coronica-gran-teran/

07/12/2023

Presentazione Libro Alto Adriatico
Enoteca di Cormons
14 Dicembre 2023
Ore 18.30 - 19.30
Con degustazione dei vini originali del territorio dell´Alto Adriatico!
Prenotazione gradita.

16/10/2023

PROSECCO: Is it Prosecco, Prosek or Prosegk?
The history of Prosecco is interesting and did you know that it has its roots in the NORTH ADRIATIC? And... did you know that once a wine with the same name was also produced in Collio? The small town Prosecco is locally called 'Prosek' because in this part of Italy Slovenian is the dominant language.
Do you want to learn more about this wine? Read my book NORTH ADRIATIC: it offers a lot of information about this wine and one of Europe's most wonderful and versatile wine regions!

Photos: vineyards near the village Prosek/Prosecco
https://paulbalke.com/books-music/books/

21/05/2023

Veel dank Vin0Vita !! :

𝐇𝐞𝐭 𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐮𝐰𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐞𝐤 𝐯𝐚𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐮𝐥 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞
De komende tijd zal ik samen met Paul diverse posts maken van zijn nieuwe boek, waaruit zijn grote expertise blijkt! Ik ontmoette Paul op Sardinië en ben sindsdien enorm enthousiast over zijn zeer uitgebreide kennis! De komende tijd deel ik diverse stukken uit zijn boek!
🅵🆁🅸🆄🅻🅸
De vlakke vlaktes van Friuli beslaan een groot gebied rond Udine en Pordenone en strekken zich uit tot aan de Adriatische Zee. Dit is het gebied van Friuli Grave DOC, maar tegenwoordig is deze DOC zeldzaam geworden omdat veel producenten Friuli DOC zijn gaan gebruiken voor hun rode en witte wijnen. Een andere belangrijke wijn is Pinot Grigio delle Venezia DOC. Maar er zijn ook onverwachte verrassingen, zoals het dorp Fagagna dat oude tradities van Picolit kent (je zult er nu niet veel Picolit meer vinden).
In deze vlaktes was er altijd al wijnbouw, maar in het verleden was het meer beperkt. Tegenwoordig bevatten de vlaktes meer dan 8.000 hectare wijngaarden, misschien zelfs nog meer. Er zijn ook IGT-wijnen: Trevenezie IGT, en er is een belangrijke productie van mousserende wijnen (Ribolla spumante!) en Prosecco.
De grootste verrassing ligt in het noorden, nabij de rivier de Tagliamento: een klein gebied met wijnen van zeldzame druiven zoals Forgiarin, Cjanorie, Ucelut, Sciaglin, Piculit-Neri en anderen.
De Friuli-vlaktes hebben ook veel culturele hoogtepunten en er is een breed scala aan fantastische restaurants en trattoria's.
Ga dat lezen! Binnenkort meer!
Meer weten? Paul Balke

17/05/2023

The flat plains of Friuli cover a large area, situate around Udine and Pordenone and ending up near the Adriatic Sea. This Is the territory of Friuli Grave DOC, but today this DOC has become rare as many producers have started to use Friuli DOC for their Red and White wines. Another important wine Is Pinot Grigio delle Venezia DOC. But there are also unexpected surprises such as the Village Fagagna that knows old traditions of Picolit (now you won't find much Picolit left there). There was always viticulture in these plains but in the past It was more limited. Today the plains contain more than 8.000 ha of vineyards and maybe much more. There are also IGT wines: Trevenezie IGT, and there is an important production of sparkling wines (Ribolla spumante!) and Prosecco.
The biggest surprise is in the North near the Tagliamento River: a small area with wines of rare grapes such as Forgiarin, Cjanorie, Ucelut, Sciaglin, Piculit-Neri and others.
The Friuli plains also boast a loro of cultural highlights and there is a wide range of fantastic restaurants and trattorias.
More about this fantastic region you can find in my book: NORTH ADRIATIC.
See also: www.paulbalke.com

24/02/2023

If anyone did not know that in the NORTH ADRIATIC there is something exciting to experience: this photo is the proof!
Visit WineRi in Rijeka on 9 March!
But to learn more you need to read my book NORTH ADRIATIC.
See www.paulbalke.com

09/12/2022

Original gift: two wines, produced with my philosophy to preserve old, local varieties.
Read more about my philosophy here:
https://paulbalke.com/wine/my-manifest/

17/08/2022

After the pandemic is returning this special tradition in the Karst (above Trieste) of the Karst weddings (the 'nozze carsiche'). This traditional ceremony dates from the 19th century (when this was Austrian territory). It takes place every 2 years in August and follows the historical and ethnological sources of popular wedding customs on the Karst. From Thursday to Sunday, visitors can attend the goodbye ceremony of the unmarried and then party. The newly engaged couples greet their friends, the serenade dedicated by the boyfriend to his beloved, the transport of the dowry to the groom's house and, finally, on Sunday, the real Karst wedding in which about 500 people take part dressed in folklore costumes. It takes place in the church on Mount Tabor, after which the guests go in procession to Repen, where they can witness the handing over of the bride to the groom's family in the Karst House. Usually these celebrations are followed by thousands of visitors.
And of course, they drink the local Karst wines!
Want to learn more? Read my book about the North Adriatic to learn about the wines and traditions of this beautiful region.

Dal 24 al 28 Agosto 2022 a Monrupino tornano, dopo nove anni di assenza, le NOZZE CARSICHE!
Una rievocazione storica sugli usi e costumi nuziali popolari del Carso. Imperdibile!

ph: Marcovich

DiscoverTrieste Comune di Trieste Monrupino, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

19/04/2022

A very interesting story in the North Adriatic!

Giovedì 21 sul canale austriaco 3SAT TV andrà in onda il documentario "An den Ufern des Tagliamento - Die Menschen und ihr Fluss", ovvero "Sulle rive del Tagliamento - Il popolo e il suo fiume" in cui si parla anche di noi!

"Nel piccolo comune di Valeriano, sui terrazzamenti sopra il Tagliamento, il viticoltore Emilio Bulfon coltiva vitigni autoctoni alti. In qualità di storica dell'arte, la figlia Alberta si è occupata intensamente della storia insediativa delle genti del Tagliamento."

https://tvheute.at/3sat-programm/sendung/an-den-ufern-des-tagliamento-die-menschen-und-ihr-fluss-doku_-146034788

13/04/2022

An interesting new concept in the wine world: NORTH ADRIATIC.

Presentation of my book with FISAR Sommelier organization at VINITALY in Verona.
The NORTH ADRIATIC region is going to become one of the most important centers for wine in Europe. In my book you can read about the reasons for this development. This is fascinating region!

01/04/2022

Nice words by Brasilian journalist Andreia Debon. The conclusion must be that Collio DOC is confirmed as one of the most important white wines of Italy! We had a very interesting tasting of Collio wines, well organized by consorzio and enoteca di Cormons.

Andreia Debon, Itália - Você já ouviu falar dos vinhos brancos elaborados no território do Collio, no Friuli Venezia Giulia, na Itália? Eu tenho certeza de que poucas pessoas que estão lendo este texto já tiveram a oportunidade de degustar esses vinhos únicos. O problema é que...

12/01/2022

It is true: the NORTH ADRIATIC is one of Europe's most important wine regions in the same league as Bordeaux, Burgundy, Tuscany, Piemonte. One terroir in three countries. Interview with the press in Slovenia.
The NORTH ADRIATIC offers very original and wonderful wines. Think about Friuli Venezia Giulia, West Slovenia, Istria, Kvarner. Unique territories with unique history and culture. Time to discover their wines. More you can read in my book: NORTH ADRIATIC.

https://www.ovinu.si/1700/Severni-Jadran-en-terroir-v-treh-drzavah

Severni Jadran je na novo definirana čezmejna vinska makroregija z raznovrstno zgodovino, bogato kulturo, izjemno gastronomijo, različnimi sortami grozdja in vina ter seveda različnih tradicij. Tako jo v svoji novi knjigi opisuje Paul Balke.

20/12/2021

The North Adriatic is one of the most fascinating wine regions in the world. Not many people know that also the Kvarner region is part of this concept but for historical and cultural reasons it is! It is a wonderful region that offers some very original and wonderful wines. Time to go there and discover their wines, and by the way: you can have great dinners there! This is the region where tourism was invented. Yes: Kvarner was the world's first 'tourist region'. More you can read in my book: NORTH ADRIATIC