Welcome to the InterWine experience, a guided journey through a destination where landscape, people, and wine come together to create a story that touches you at every step. This is not just a trip, but a thoughtfully designed route through selected corners of Turopolje, Pušća, and Brežice, where through flavors, stories, architecture, nature, and encounters with locals, you will discover how deeply wine is woven into the identity of these places. Along the way, you will experience what modern travelers seek: authenticity, a slower pace, connection with the local community, sustainable approaches, and a narrative that bridges the past and the present. From the mystical forests of Turopoljski Lug to the rolling vineyards of Bizeljsko, from traditional cellars carved into sand (repnice) to castle halls – each stop brings you one step closer to understanding the richness these destinations hold. The InterWine tour is designed not only to guide you through the region’s most beautiful wine-growing and cultural sites, but also to immerse you in a story where wine intertwines with tradition, architecture, nature, and the lives of the people who create here. This is an invitation to taste, smell, hear, and feel a place that lives with wine – and where wine tells stories.
Velika Gorica
The heart of Turopolje, where wine tells stories
8:00 – 9:00
InterWine Interpretation Space
Welcome address and introduction, setting the context and presenting the project.
9:15 – 10:15
Turopolje breakfast at the Novo Čiče Ethno Village
Breakfast is prepared using local ingredients and served in an authentic setting that encourages conversation with local hosts and a deeper understanding of the cultural landscape of Turopolje. In an environment shaped by carefully restored wooden buildings, visitors are immersed in the life of past generations. The setting offers an experience of traditional architecture, rural activities, viticultural heritage, and local gastronomy.
10:30 – 12:30
Turopolje Forest and the Story of Truffles
At the heart of the Turopolje forest, beneath the canopies of centuries-old pedunculate oak trees, visitors are immersed in a unique woodland experience – a guided truffle hunt led by an experienced guide and a trained dog. Every step through the fragrant, tranquil forest reveals the hidden connection between the oak and this prized underground treasure, creating an experience that awakens all the senses and leaves a lasting impression.
Pušća
Wine stories that live among people
13:00 – 14:00
Ručak kod Vugeca
At the Vugec estate, guests are welcomed with warm hospitality in an authentic rural setting, where family tradition and a passion for viticulture intertwine. Lunch is based on local, seasonal ingredients prepared according to traditional recipes from Zagorje and the surrounding area. Selected Vugec wines are served alongside the dishes, complementing the flavors and revealing the character of the local vineyards. The lunch is designed as a relaxed culinary break, allowing visitors to experience life on the estate, the connection with the surroundings, and the sustainable approach of a family wine tradition.
14:00 – 15:00
InterWine Interpretation Space
Visitors are introduced to the significance of viticulture in Pušća, the history of the area, and the InterWine destination through a relaxed tasting of local wines.
Brežice
A timeless journey through vineyards and tradition
15:30 – 16:00
Istenič
A visit to the Istenič sparkling wine house reveals to guests one of the most distinguished names in Slovenian traditional winemaking. The family-run cellar represents a long-standing tradition of producing sparkling wines using the classic method, supported by precision, craftsmanship, and respect for terroir.
During the guided tour, visitors are introduced to the story of the Istenič family, the process of bottle fermentation, and the challenges and advantages of sparkling wine production. The visit includes a walk through architecturally distinctive cellar spaces, where modern approaches intertwine with traditional techniques. A special highlight is the exhibition and interpretation centre established by Istenič d.o.o. in a typical thatched-roof house – a cultural monument representing an authentic 19th-century Bizeljsko home. It is in this very house that, more than fifty years ago, the story of the Istenič family and their passion for sparkling wine began. The visit concludes with a guided tasting of selected Istenič sparkling wines, where guests sample a variety of styles — from fresh, fruity, and light options to more complex cuvées. The tasting takes place in a relaxed yet professionally guided setting, where visitors learn about grape varieties, wine characteristics, and the principles of pairing sparkling wines with food.
16:00 – 17:30
Guided cycling tour through the wine cellars of Bizeljsko
The cycling tour offers visitors a unique way to explore the wine-growing landscape of Bizeljsko. At the starting point, participants are provided with e-bikes adapted to different levels of fitness, as well as a professional tour guide who ensures a safe, relaxed, and engaging journey through the rolling countryside. During the ride, participants pass through a landscape of vineyards, orchards, and villages characteristic of the area. The guide introduces them to the cultural and architectural heritage preserved in numerous traditional buildings. Special emphasis is placed on the repnice—unique underground cellars carved into quartz sand—as well as on the distinctive Bizeljsko wine cellars, each telling its own story of time, families, local identity, and connection to the land.
The tour is designed as a sustainable and active experience, allowing visitors to connect with the region in an authentic, calm, and environmentally friendly way while discovering the richness of the Bizeljsko wine region firsthand.
18:00 – 19:30
InterWine Interpretation Space
The day concludes at Brežice Castle, where the visit includes one of the permanent museum exhibitions, offering deeper insight into the history of the Posavje region, local identity, and the development of life along the Sava River.
Following the cultural programme, the experience continues with a relaxed finale in the InterWine Castle Cellar—an interpretation space dedicated to understanding the Brežice wine-growing landscape and its key characteristics. In the intimate setting of historic architecture, guests are welcomed with a curated tasting of local wines accompanied by bites of regional delicacies that showcase the area’s culinary specialties.
