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Festival weekend planner

Salon Penina (Sparkling Wine Salon) — a 3-day weekend in Primorska

Second weekend of March. Nova Gorica, Slovenia.

The weekend, day by day

  1. Day 1

    Arrive in Nova Gorica

    Land at Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport (LJU), settle in and walk the old town in the afternoon. Light dinner near your accommodation — save your appetite for the festival day.

  2. Day 2

    Salon Penina (Sparkling Wine Salon)

    Festival day — arrive early to avoid the lunchtime crowd. Pace yourself across the tastings and break for a long lunch mid-afternoon.

  3. Day 3

    Wine country day in Primorska

    Use the third day for a single winery visit (booked ahead) and a long lunch before heading home.

Where to stay

  • Hotels in Nova Gorica

    Live availability around the festival dates. Festival hotels book out 6+ months ahead, so check early.

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Practical

Nearest airport
Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport (LJU)

Insider tip

Arrive for the blind tasting competitions on the first day when producers are most generous with pours and less exhausted; focus on rebula-based sparklers from Vipava Valley producers, as they're Slovenia's most distinctive category and under-recognized internationally. Book workshops with smaller méthode traditionnelle producers directly rather than through the main event.

Want a longer trip than the festival weekend?

The milestone-trip planner builds a 3–10 day Primorska itinerary with accommodation, tours, and pacing options.

Plan a Primorska trip →