This month's selection takes us to the heart of Slovenia, a hidden gem in the natural wine world that's been quietly perfecting their craft for centuries.

Last autumn, I had the privilege of visiting the rolling hills of the Vipava Valley and Goriška Brda region. What struck me immediately was the deep respect Slovenian winemakers have for their land and traditions. Here, natural winemaking isn't a trend, it's simply how things have always been done.

Slovenia sits at the crossroads of Mediterranean and Alpine influences, creating a unique terroir that produces wines with incredible freshness and minerality. The indigenous grape varieties like Rebula, Želen, and Malvazija thrive in this climate, resulting in wines that are unlike anything you'll find elsewhere.

What makes Slovenian natural wine special is their tradition of aging wines in large oak barrels and their fearless approach to skin-contact whites (orange wines). Many winemakers here learned from their grandparents, who never used industrial yeasts or additives, they simply didn't exist back then.

This month's selection features some of my favorite discoveries from that trip: wines that tell the story of Slovenia's rich winemaking heritage while pushing boundaries with modern natural techniques.