The thesis describes the history, tradition and key features of grape and wine production in the Dolenjska wine-growing district. There are 1.357 ha of vineyards registered in the Register of Grape and Wine Producers (Register pridelovalcev grozdja in vina). About 1.814 ha of vineyards are in actual use, cultivated by around 9.290 winegrowers. 0.20 ha is the average vineyard size per grower. Dolenjska is diverse in relief, so the rows of grapevine usually run in the direction of the slope, whereby 30.4 % of vineyards are on the slope of 31-50 %, which is the largest share in Slovenia. On the outskirts of the wine-growing district we can still find older vineyards, grown in traditional way, that is without wires and on wooden stakes. In such vineyards all work is done manually, using simple tools as well as backpack motorized mowers and sprayers. That contributes to high maintance costs and increased working hours that the winegrowers need to invest due to the slopes and non-use of machinery. The most common grapevine varieties in the Dolenjska wine-growing district are 'Žametovka', 'Modra frankinja', 'Laški rizling' and 'Kraljevina'. Together they represent 74 % of all wine-growing areas in the district. These varieties are traditionally used for the production of cviček PTP wine. In addition to cviček, dolenjsko belo, varietal wines, predicates and sparkling wines are produced. In the second half of the 19th century the grapevine phylloxera spread in the region, so American grapevine hybrids of non Vitis vinifera grapevine spread. The varieties 'Šmarnica', 'Izabela' and 'Jurka' remain the part of viticulture in Suha Krajina and wines made from grapes of these grapevines are annually evaluated. Also, the Week of Cviček is held annually in Novo Mesto, where the King and the Princess of Cviček are crowned.
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