Zalošče: Wine, Nature and Cultural Heritage

Visitors planning a trip to Zalošče can explore the area from several perspectives: the landscape around Zaloški bajer, winegrowing and the history of the military cemeteries. The Pot med vinogradi trail also offers a practical reference for planning your time. Each topic has a different focus, so you can tailor your stay to the interests that matter for your trip.

Landscape around Zaloški bajer

Zaloški bajer is a remnant of the Vipava River’s former course and one of the best-preserved oxbow lakes along the river. Formed by the Vipava, it provides a refuge for numerous animal and plant species. Alongside winegrowing and cultural heritage, this makes the natural environment a key feature, defined by its origins and its importance to animal and plant species.

The Pot med vinogradi trail

Pot med vinogradi is an easy, marked route through vineyards and olive and peach orchards in Zalošče. The trail starts at the Zalošče bus stop, is 5.7 kilometres long and takes about one hour and 30 minutes on foot. These details can help you set aside time for the walk; the actual walking time is only an estimate. The starting point is the bus stop, so please plan your journey there separately. Trail conditions may change, so it is advisable to check them before setting out.

Wine and regional cuisine

Wine experiences in Zalošče vary in format and the arrangements required. At Zaloščan Vina de Adami, a standard wine tasting by arrangement includes five wines and a snack of homemade cheese and olive oil. All generations of the Slejk family uphold the winegrowing and cellar tradition of the Vipava Valley. The estate has eight hectares of vineyards, cultivated according to tradition without the use of herbicides.

Saxida also combines wine with regional cuisine. Authentic seasonal dishes with a distinctly local character are prepared there; a six-course tasting menu is available by prior order. The winery is also part of the Krog Umetnosti-Art Circle project, which connects art and wine in the Vipava Valley and Brda.

Tourist Farm Gregorič produces homemade white cuvée wines and red varietal wines. Its wines are sold in bulk or in bottles, and wines with personalised labels are also available for purchase. The local wine scene therefore offers a range of options: a tasting by arrangement, a menu that must be ordered in advance, a family tradition upheld across generations, and wines sold in different formats.

History and directions

The Austro-Hungarian military cemetery Zalošče I is located near the branch church of St Lawrence in Zalošče. A central monument in the cemetery commemorates the fallen soldiers of the 22nd Regiment, whose recruitment district was in Chernivtsi (Czernowitz), in the former Bukovina, in what is now Ukraine. Cemetery I can be reached from the road from Dornberk to Zalošče: after crossing the Vipava Bridge, turn right at the first junction in Zalošče.

Military cemetery Zalošče II can be reached from the edge of the village via a gravel and cart track through the vineyards. According to Italian authorities, 120 soldiers are buried there. Check the relevant directions before setting out. A memorial plaque set into the church wall in Zalošče also commemorates the person buried there.

For planning purposes, the details are easy to distinguish: Pot med vinogradi is described with an estimated walking time, while tastings at Zaloščan Vina de Adami are by arrangement and Saxida’s tasting menu must be ordered in advance. This lets you take the walking time and the offers’ respective conditions into account when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Pristava, Nova Gorica, Dobrovo, Podsabotin, Kostanjevica na Krasu, Kambreško, Prvačina, Solkan.

Return to the main travel overview: Nova Gorica.