Wine safari in Slovakia - 6×6 off-road and wine tasting in Svätý Jur

Writer: Helena Bergström

We went on a wine safari in Slovakia, in the small town of Svätý Jur just outside Bratislava. This was an adventure that offered both good wines and a bumpy ride with a delicious six-wheel drive off-road vehicle.

Wine safari – what is it?

But, wine safari, What exactly is it? The fact is that the term can mean slightly different things, depending on the context and where in the world you are. It usually refers to some kind of guided experience where you visit vineyards, wine bars or wine producers.

In this case, in Svätý Jur in Slovakia, it meant a trip in a six-wheel drive off-road vehicle through the vineyards, combined with wine tasting. And it certainly felt like we were on safari in this off-road vehicle!

Svätý Jur outside Bratislava

Svätý Jur, or Sankt Georgen as the town is called in German, is a small town in southwestern Slovakia, just outside Bratislava.

Wine production in Svätý Jur dates back to at least the 16th century, and wine is still produced today on the slopes surrounding the town. Mainly white wines are produced here, including Riesling and Grüner Veltliner, but also some rosé and red wines.

Wine safari in Slovakia – a little adventure

Embarking on a wine safari in Slovakia turned out to be quite an adventure. We were picked up by a six-wheel off-road vehicle with the sign ”Winesafari” on the side – originally an Austrian military vehicle with a Volvo engine.

Since the vehicle was open on the sides, the crisp November air blew straight in, but with cushions and warm blankets, it was still really cosy. It got even nicer when we were each given a wine glass and got to try the first white wine before we even left the car park. In addition, Martin, from Winesafari, provided both interesting information and lots of wonderful laughter.

Sometimes you had to hold on tight (especially to your wine glass!) as the vehicle bumped along the hilly terrain.

But what does that matter when you're having fun? Martin poured generously into the glasses at each tasting, and if there was a little too much, he just poured the leftovers onto the grass outside the car...

Wine safaris are organised all year round in Svätý Jur, and according to Martin, each season has its own charm. Here in November, it was of course a bit chilly, and the vines were bare, but we had a beautiful view of the fields and the town.

A table with Slovak wines and Slovak snacks

After an hour or so on the road, with various short stops and a constant supply of new wines, we arrived at our final destination. Here there were toilets and a large, lovely table outside in the open air. Quick as a flash, Martin produced even more wines, as well as bread and local snacks.

During the trip, we mainly tasted different white wines, but now it was also time to try a rosé wine and two red wines, as well as a non-alcoholic fruit drink. Our rating? We thought the white wines were the best, which is perhaps not surprising since that is what they primarily produce here.

Snacks included sourdough bread, local sausages and locally grown cucumbers and tomatoes. Perhaps most interesting, however, were the local cheeses, which can be twisted or rolled, smoked or unsmoked.

How to experience wine in Slovakia

Slovakia is a wine-producing country, but production is mainly for domestic consumption, so exports are limited. In other words, if you want to try Slovakian wine, the best place to do so is in Slovakia!

One option is, of course, to book a wine safari in Slovakia, in Svätý Jur. A trip that comes highly recommended! The trip can be booked for either four or eight people, via Winesafari.sk.

If you are in Bratislava and want to do something a little easier, we can recommend a visit to Salon wine. This cellar houses Slovakia's hundred best wines, and you can book a tasting of, for example, two, four or eight different wines. Of course, you can also try the country's wines at restaurants around Bratislava and Slovakia!

More to see and do in Slovakia

So, what else can you see and do in Slovakia? We can recommend visits to the capital city of Bratislava, which offers a cosy town centre and plenty of nice restaurants, shops and art museums. In addition, the country offers dramatic mountains and nature experiences, which we hope to see more of in the future.

This trip was a press trip organised by Slovakia Travel and the Bratislava Tourist Board. As always, all thoughts and opinions are our own!