by InTrieste
On summer nights in this small border town just south of Trieste, the sound of clinking glasses drifts through the Jože Rapotec Park, mingling with live music and the aroma of freshly poured wine. Next Saturday, August 23, San Dorligo della Valle will host the second edition of Le Notti del Vino (Wine Nights), a celebration of the region’s winemaking traditions that brings together vintners from both sides of the Italian–Slovenian frontier.
The event, organized by the regional branch of the “Città del Vino” association in collaboration with local cultural groups, aims to highlight the skill of small-scale producers and the distinct terroir of the Karst and Istrian landscapes. Visitors can sample wines directly from the makers, speak with winemakers about their craft, and join guided tastings at nearby cellars.
This year, the roster includes some of the area’s most established names — Berdon, Cacovich, Grgič, Kocjančič, Komar, Lenardon, Merlak, Ota, Parovel Vigneti e Oliveti 1898, Sancin Evo Oil & Wine, and Zahar — alongside two Slovenian producers: Vina Montis & Eko Laura from Montignano-Montinjan in Istria and Vina Sanabor from Ravnje near Štanjel in the Karst region.
The evening is designed not only as a tasting event but as a cultural gathering. Live performances by musicians Patrik Pregarc and Erika Labiani will provide a soundtrack as visitors move between stalls, tasting stations, and park benches. For those wanting a deeper immersion, three wineries — Rado Kocjančič, Sancin Evo Oil & Wine, and Zahar — will open their doors for pre-booked tours, offering a behind-the-scenes look at production and aging processes.
The celebration extends beyond wine. The Val Rosandra Nature Reserve Visitor Center will offer an evening excursion, Le Notti del Vino in Val Rosandra, inviting participants to explore the surrounding landscape before returning to the park for the festivities. Details are available on the reserve’s website.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to promote wine tourism in the borderlands, where cultures and languages blend as naturally as the vineyards spill across hillsides. Supported by ZKB Trieste Gorizia and the Municipality of San Dorligo della Valle, the event reflects the growing interest in experiences that combine regional flavors with a sense of place.
More info here.
