December gathering with sparkling wines in Portorož
Sparkling Wine Festival is an annual December event that on December 26th in Portorož brings together lovers of sparkling wines and glamorous atmosphere.
In the magnificent Crystal Hall of the Kempinski Palace Portorož, visitors can taste more than 250 samples of sparkling wines from over 30 domestic and international wineries. Selected sparkling wines made by the classic or Charmat method are available, as well as champagnes from the renowned French region of Champagne.
In addition to sparkling wine tastings, guests can also enjoy a specially prepared gourmet dinner at Sophia Restaurant or other selected culinary delights that perfectly pair with the world of bubbles.
Join us on December 26th in Portorož!
Ticket purchase for the Sparkling Wine Festival 2025
Sparkling Wine Festival 2025
The Crystal Hall of the Kempinski Palace Portorož will shine once again in festive elegance on 26 December 2025, hosting the Sparkling Wine Festival 2025, a unique experience for all lovers of sparkling wines.
Visitors will be welcomed by more than 250 top-quality sparkling wines from Slovenia and abroad, enriched by prestigious champagnes presented by renowned sommelier Valentin Bufolin. The evening will also feature the announcement of the Best Sparkling Wine of Portorož 2025, selected in cooperation with the Slovenian Wine Knights and the Wine Queen of Slovenian Istria.
Don’t miss this exceptional event!
Best sparkling wines of Portorož from previous editions
Below is an overview of the sparkling wines that have won the title of Best Sparkling Wine of Portorož in previous years.
The list highlights the outstanding winners of each edition and reflects the development and excellence of sparkling wine producers over time.
| 2012 | Prestige brut natur – 2003, Istenič, Bizeljsko-Sremič |
| 2013 | Penina N°1 – 2008, Istenič, Bizeljsko-Sremič |
| 2014 | Bjana Cuvée Prestige – 2008, Bjana – Miran Sirk Dobrovo Goriška Brda |
| 2015 | Br’stovska penina – malvazija 2008, Vinarstvo Rebula Komen |
| 2016 | Blanc de blanc – 2013, Sektkellerei Szigeti |
| 2017 | Rosé selection – 2017, Radgonske gorice |
| 2018 | Br’stovska penina – malvazija 2010, Vinarstvo Rebula Komen |
| 2019 | Blanc de blancs – Klet Silveri |
| 2022 | Zlata radgonska penina Millésime – 2004, Radgonske gorice |
| 2023 | Nature zero vintage collection – 2011, Silveri |
| 2024 | Anastazija 2015, Vinarstvo Rebula Komen |
Month of Sparkling Wine
This year, Portorož and Piran will be all about bubbles for the entire month, as the Month of Sparkling Wines begins on December 1st, when selected local restaurants will offer special tasting menus accompanied by sparkling wines.
Visitors will be able to indulge in gourmet delights paired with selected bubbles in the following restaurants:
Restaurant Rizibizi
Portorož
Pamper your taste buds with a premium 7-course menu that combines the seafood flavours of Slovenian Istria, seasonal ingredients, and selected wine pairings from renowned Slovenian wineries. Each dish – from marinated gilthead seabream and octopus to prawns, Piran sea bass, and a refined persimmon dessert – is paired with a glass of sparkling wine or wine that highlights its finest aromas. The price of the complete gastronomic and oenological experience, with a glass of sparkling wine served with each course, is €140 per person.
Reservations:
Phone: 040 240 554
E-mail: info@rizibizi.si
Restaurant Marina Portorož
Portorož
The exquisite 4-course menu combines game, seafood, and seasonal autumn flavours – from delicate venison carpaccio to aromatic cauliflower soup with a prawn. The main course in surf & turf style delights with shrimp noodles and beef tagliata, while the finishing touch is a warm combination of apples, walnuts, and cinnamon. The menu price is €48, with an additional sparkling wine pairing available for €24.
Reservations:
Phone: 041 333 326
E-mail: info@novakulinarika.si
COB
Portorož
Experience an exclusive festive culinary journey where chef Filip Matjaž will guide you through an 8-course multisensory experience in two hours, crafted from the finest local ingredients. This unique surprise menu, available from 19 December 2025 to 4 January 2026, brings the authentic holiday spirit of Istria and selected sparkling wines. The price of the experience is €280 (€175 without wine pairing), and a reservation is required for this unforgettable end-of-year experience.
Reservations:
Phone: 041 886 633
E-mail: info@cob.si
Stara gostilna – Vecchia osteria
Piran
Surrender to a refined 5-course menu that, through carefully selected combinations – from chicken with pear and Port wine to gilthead seabream with beetroot and elegant sea bass with whey and caviar – reveals contemporary Istrian gastronomy. Each dish builds a new layer of flavours, enriched with the aromas of bacon, mushrooms, and hazelnuts, and concludes with an expressive coffee–chocolate dessert with Jerusalem artichoke. The full experience with selected sparkling wines is priced at €145.
Reservations:
Phone: 041 439 008
E-mail: info@stara-gostilna.com
Café Central
Portorož
Enjoy festive sparkling-and-sweet moments with carefully selected pairings of sparkling wines from various Slovenian wine regions and house-made desserts that complement each other perfectly in flavour. Each offer combines a glass of sparkling wine and a dessert at a special festive price, ideal for indulgence or a relaxed finish to a meal. Whether it’s a light cheesecake, a playful “Santa’s Hat”, or an elegant tartlet – choose your favourite duo and toast to the sweet moments of the season.
No advance reservation is required.
Restaurant Remisens Hotel Metropol
Portorož
Indulge in two curated 3-course menus, where exquisite dishes pair perfectly with Capris sparkling wines. The fish menu delights with tuna carpaccio, smoked sea bass, and a warm apple strudel, while the meat menu features delicate chicken mousse, rich lamb shank, and a chocolate–coffee dessert. Each menu, served with a glass of sparkling wine for every course, is available at the price of €50 per person.
Reservations:
Remisens Hotel Metropol *****
Phone number: +386 (0)5 690 1000
E-mail: recepcija.hotelmetropol@remisens.com
Restaurant Sol Priée
Portorož
Treat yourself to an elegant 3-course menu that begins with a delicate smoked swordfish carpaccio on fresh salad with pomegranate and balsamic dressing. This is followed by a rich combination of chestnut gnocchi in creamy cheese sauce and meagre served on aromatic pumpkin rice with almond flakes. The experience concludes with a light panna cotta topped with persimmon cream and coconut. The menu price is €85 with selected sparkling wines or €65 without sparkling wines.
Reservations:
Phone: 056 760 450
E-mail: marketing.portoroz@casino.si
Surprising facts about sparkling wines – did you know them already?
Only sparkling wines produced in the French region of Champagne may be called champagne.
Other French sparkling wines are known as crémant, in Italy you drink spumante, in Spain cava, in Germany and Austria Sekt, in England sparkling wine, and in Slovenia this is called penina.
Sparkling wine can be made from different types of wine. There are white, red, and rosé sparkling wines.
Bubbles in the glass
Sparkling wine contains three forms of carbon dioxide. The first is the free, gaseous form found in the empty space in the neck of the bottle; the second is the dissolved form, when the gas mixes with the liquid and forms carbonic acid; and the third is the bound, ester form, created when carbonic acid slowly binds with alcohols. This form enables the release of fine chains of bubbles, which we beautifully call sparkling.
A good sparkling wine must also foam well. Foaming occurs on the surface of the wine along the rim of the glass, and in quality sparkling wines it should last at least three to four minutes.
Choosing the right glass for the perfect sparkling wine
It is recommended to use proper sparkling wine glasses. A tall and slender glass is preferred. The most suitable is the so-called tulip glass, in which the bubbles are beautifully visible. If the bubbles are fine, numerous, and long-lasting, you can be sure you’re drinking a high-quality sparkling wine.
The right temperature for perfect enjoyment
Sparkling wine should be served as chilled as possible, but not colder than 6°C. The ideal serving temperature is between 6 and 8°C.
