Repnice

There are places and towns that still surprise and enchant. Before us lies an unusual sandy world, so unique and yet undiscovered. Is it a miracle of nature or the work of human hands? Or both? Nature has been generous in these parts. The skilled locals of Brezovica, Bizeljsko, Pišece, and Globoko recognized its generosity and took what it offered them when it revealed itself in tiny grains of quartz sand. This gave rise to windmills, some over two hundred years old, and some of them are still in operation today. In the glow of thousands of brown-yellow sand crystals, the past meets the present. One can still sense the joy and delight of a bountiful harvest—once turnips and other field crops, today primarily fine wine. What was once a refuge from turbulent times can today signify a return to silence and peace, to the mystery and creativity of humanity and nature. The Repnica Trail is a path of discovery and learning, as well as a path of simple pleasures, where we can taste the very best that ripens in the Repnica, matures there, and sparkles in our glasses. The Cellar at the Kovačič Family: GPS: 45.997530, 15.684300 / Tel: +386 7 495 10 91 There are still people who open the sunny doors to the world of cellars for us, and let’s hope there will be more and more of them. It is lovely to share this world with them, even for a moment. In the glow of the hidden light, shadows fall upon the sandy arches, which stand so majestic and mighty, yet at the same time fade from view as they descend the sand dune. As if time has stopped and the sand no longer slides. As if nature has transcended the law of transience. How wonderful it would be if we could carry this moment with us into the world up there, when the gates of the sun close behind us… What are repnice? Repnice are caves dug into the quartz sand that was deposited in the Bizeljsko area millions of years ago by the Pannonian Sea. They got their name from turnips, which people stored in them along with other field crops. These sandy pits are part of the area’s indigenous natural, historical, ethnological, and cultural heritage. Due to their long-standing utility and the uniqueness of their formation, they are a point of interest along the Bizeljsko-Sremiška Wine Tourism Route. Najger Turnip Pit: GPS: 45.997383, 15.683270 / Tel: +386 31 525 648 How were the pits formed? Some locals of Bizeljsko, particularly from the villages of Brezovica, Stara vas, and Pišece all the way to Globoko, dug pits of various sizes into the quartz sand. While working, they also came across shells, remnants of the Pannonian Sea. The sea had deposited layers of sand of varying fineness, which compacted over time and allowed the locals to dig these natural food storage caves. They did not use any building materials for this, except when bricking up the entrance, which had to be particularly reinforced to protect the storage pit from external weather conditions. Digging was a demanding task. They used a pickaxe and shovel, a wheelbarrow to haul away the sand, and a special scraper to level and shape the walls and ceiling. An interesting fact about the tools is that they had to forge new pickaxes every day because they wore down so much during digging that they became unusable. What were they used for—what were the advantages? Cellars were once used primarily for storing crops. Due to constant humidity of around 95% and a temperature of around 8°C, they were the most suitable storage space in an era when there were no cold storage facilities or refrigerators. People say that apples stored there remained fresh and firm until the next harvest. Smaller farms had only modest cellars, while larger and wealthier ones had several, each for a specific type of crop. They were also used for cooking and storing brandy, meat, and other foods. They proved useful during the war as well, when locals hid in them and, in times of danger, fled from their homes into the forest through underground tunnels. Another major advantage was that people did not need building materials to construct these cellars. Their use can be compared to so-called earthen huts—holes dug into fields where people who could not dig cellars on their own properties also stored their winter provisions. Unlike dugouts, cellars were more durable, were closer to farmsteads, and access to crops was also easier. Because of all these advantages, some people even rented them to store their crops. Many root cellars are still located in the middle of vineyard areas, and many of them had a wooden vestibule. This was a temporary outbuilding used for storing pesticides, lime, and tools. What are they used for today? Today, they are still used in some places to store field crops, vegetables, and fruit. Due to suitable climatic conditions, they are now mostly used for aging and storing wine. The high humidity in the caves isn’t ideal for wooden barrels, so winemakers only began storing their fine wine in them once they started bottling it in stainless steel containers and glass bottles. Today, these cellars are also an ideal venue for tasting the distinctive wines of the Bizeljsko-Sremiško wine-growing region. The owners of these facilities are happy to offer their guests a taste of fine wine. The sandy caves are a major tourist attraction in this area, and six of them are currently open to visitors. Source: Repnice Brochure. Published by the Municipality of Brežice.