PROFESSIONAL STUDY TOUR
A Taste of Place in Eastern Slovenia
October 22-26, 2026
Discover the people, places, traditions, and flavors that define one of Europe's most exciting culinary destinations. Join a small group of professionals for five immersive days of learning, networking, and authentic local experiences.
When: 22–26 October 2026
Where: Ljubljana & Maribor, Slovenia
Who: Limited to 20 participants
(registration closes when the tour is full)
STUDY TOUR OVERVIEW
Why Eastern Slovenia in 2026?
At the crossroads of the Mediterranean, Alpine, and Pannonian worlds, eastern Slovenia offers an extraordinary combination of vineyards, family farms, historic towns, and centuries-old culinary traditions. During harvest season, participants experience the region at one of its most vibrant times of year.
Study Tour Highlights
🍷 Family wineries and vineyard tastings
🧑🌾 Farm visits and producer experiences
🥖 Traditional food workshops
🏛 Historic towns and markets
🐝 Slovenian beekeeping heritage
🤝 Networking with destination professionals
Five-Day Itinerary
1 Thursday 22 October Arrival and Ljubljana City walk and welcome dinner at Jaz by Ana Roš
Arrival at Ljubljana Airport
Transfer into the city, with luggage stored for the day.
Guided Walk Through Ljubljana's Old Town
Plečnik's riverside city, markets and bridges
Slovenia's capital was reshaped by the architect Jože Plečnik, whose UNESCO listed bridges, embankments and colonnaded market define the old town.
visitljubljana.comWelcome Dinner at Jaz by Ana Roš
A celebratory first taste from Slovenia's most celebrated chef
The Ljubljana bistro of Ana Roš, World's Best Female Chef 2017, whose Hiša Franko became Slovenia's first three Michelin star restaurant.
jaz.anaros.eu/ljubljanaTransfer to Maribor, About 90 Minutes
Check in at our home for the next four nights.
2 Friday 23 October Maribor and the Wine Hills Coffee culture, a vineyard lunch and tastings with the growers
Breakfast at the Hotel
Maribor Coffee Culture at Vodni Stolp
Coffee and craft beer by the Drava
Morning coffee by the 16th century Water Tower, a riverside defensive bastion that once guarded the town and still anchors its old wine cellar quarter.
visitmaribor.siZavrh, Maister Memorial Room and Tower
Panoramic views across the Slovenske gorice
A hilltop lookout honoring General Rudolf Maister, who secured this borderland for Slovenia in 1918 and 1919. On a clear day the views reach Hungary's Lake Balaton.
rudolfmaister.siVineyard Lunch at Taverna Jeruzalem
A long, scenic lunch above the famous wine road
Overlooking the Jeruzalem wine road, a ridge of steep vineyards named by medieval Crusaders and counted among Slovenia's most beautiful wine country.
gostisce-taverna.siWalk Through the Slovenske Gorice Hills
Wine Tasting at Vineyard Cottage Malek, Svetinje
Meet the growers behind the bottle
A 350 year old vineyard cottage with a baroque chapel fresco, a giant press and a vaulted cellar, pouring the whites of the Ljutomer and Ormož hills.
visitjeruzalem.com3 Saturday 24 October Markets, Farms and Ptuj A market morning, a farm stew lunch and dinner among the vines
Breakfast at the Hotel
Maribor Tour and Central Market
Stara trta, the world's oldest living grapevine
At its heart grows Stara trta, the world's oldest living grapevine, more than 400 years old and Guinness listed, and still yielding wine at each harvest.
najstarejsatrta.siFarm Lunch at Firbas Agritourism, Cerkvenjak
A hosted farm experience with a homemade stew
A Slovenske gorice family farm with more than 20 years of agritourism in Europe's Houses with Tradition network, serving what the land itself provides.
firbas.comPtuj, Slovenia's Oldest Town
Cobbled streets, a castle and wine cellar heritage
Roman Poetovio, crowned by a hilltop castle above the country's oldest wine cellar, and named Europe's Best Cultural Heritage Town for 2026.
visitptuj.euWinery Dinner in Kungota at Dreisiebner
Dinner among the vines, the heart amid the vineyards
A Špičnik hillside estate above the celebrated heart shaped vineyard road, pouring the aromatic border whites of far northern Styria.
dreisiebner.si4 Sunday 25 October Traditions and Tastes A gibanica workshop, a beekeeper's apiary and a farm feast
Breakfast at the Hotel
Gibanica Workshop, Sveta Ana
Make the local layered cake, then eat it for lunch
Hands on with gibanica, the layered walnut, poppy seed, apple and cottage cheese cake of the Slovene Hills, and a protected traditional dish.
Beekeeper's Visit at Čebelarstvo Žvikart
Slovenske Konjice, a taste of Slovenia's bee heritage
A family apiary of more than 60 years with some 350 hives, and a window on Slovenia's beekeeping culture, home of the native Carniolan bee and of World Bee Day.
cebelarstvo-zvikart.siFarm Tour and Medieval Dinner at Pri Baronu
Fram and Planica, a Heriterra historical feast to close the day
An organic farm whose HERITERRA dinner rebuilds the ancestral table from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages, guided by local archaeology.
pribaronu.si5 Monday 26 October Farewell A farewell breakfast, free time and the transfer home
Farewell Breakfast Meeting
A final gathering to share highlights and contacts, hosted by WFTA and Culinary Heritage Network leaders.
Free Time in Maribor
A last morning to wander, shop the market or simply relax.
Group Transfer to Ljubljana, Brnik and Kranj
Timed around your departures.
Departure from Ljubljana Airport
Safe travels, until the next Taste of Place Study Tour in 2027.
Arriving by train? Maribor and Ljubljana are both around four hours from Vienna, Munich or Budapest.
What's Included
✅ Included
Meals
Tastings
Producer visits
Guided city walks
Ground transportation
Local ambassador
Educational program
❌ Not Included
Transportation to Slovenia
Hotel (book your own from our recommended list)
Travel insurance
Personal expenses
Alcohol outside hosted experiences
Who Should Attend?
Ideal participants include:
- Destination marketing organizations
- Tourism ministries
- Regional governments
- Culinary associations
- Tour operators
- Tourist guides
- Hospitality professionals
- Researchers
- University faculty
- Food/beverage entrepreneurs and makers
Please note: Taste of Place Study Tours are professional learning experiences designed for destination and industry professionals. While they include exceptional food, wine, and cultural experiences, they are not leisure vacations or escorted sightseeing tours.
Meet Your Hosts
Erik Wolf
Founder and Executive Director, World Food Travel Association
Tour Host
Erik founded the World Food Travel Association in 2001 and is widely credited with establishing food tourism as a named professional discipline.
He published the first white paper on culinary tourism, conducted the first global consumer research into food travelers, and created the frameworks that much of the sector now works with, including PsychoCulinary Profiling, the Destination Culinary Life Cycle, and Taste of Place. He is the author of Have Fork, Will Travel and Crafting Your Taste of Place.
Erik advises UNESCO and UN Tourism, lectures internationally, and has consulted for destinations on five continents. He lives in a rural valley in the Valencia region of Spain, where the questions this tour asks about protecting a local food culture are not academic ones.
On this tour he leads the study element, drawing out what eastern Slovenia is doing well and what any destination can learn from it.
Rasto Kirn
World Food Travel Association Ambassador in Slovenia
Local Host
Rasto is our ambassador in Slovenia and he lives in the greener, more agricultural east, which is why the tour goes where it goes.
Every door on this itinerary opens because Rasto knows the people behind it. The family farms, the beekeeper, the growers pouring their own wine in a 350 year old cottage. These are not commercial stops arranged by an agency. They are his neighbors, and the welcome will be the kind you only get when someone local vouches for you.
He is with the group throughout the week, translating far more than language.
Niclas Fjellström
Global Coordinator, Culinary Heritage Network (CHN)
Partner Host
Niclas has coordinated the Culinary Heritage Network globally since 2012, connecting certified members across more than 25 countries.
Based in Sweden and describing himself as a global citizen, his work sits at the meeting point of food culture, tourism, regional development, and international cooperation. At CHN he oversees international cooperation, the development of the certification, and the strategic projects that tie partner regions together, all of it aimed at making local food and cultural identity a genuine driver of sustainable tourism and rural growth.
He grew up in a family of restaurateurs, which is where the respect for craft and hospitality started. He was educated in risk management and security coordination, with a specialization in international relations and open source intelligence, and he advises several international companies on innovation, market positioning, and partnerships.
Niclas is a frequent keynote speaker on food tourism, experience design, and rural resilience, and has lectured in more than 20 countries across Europe, the Caucasus, and the Middle East.
Why Join a Taste of Place Study Tour?
"Go beyond sightseeing and experience the people, traditions, and stories that define a destination's Taste of Place."
Rather than simply visiting a destination, our professional study tours provide behind-the-scenes access to the people, organizations, and traditions that shape its culinary identity. Designed for destination leaders, tourism professionals, researchers, educators, and food industry stakeholders, each tour combines professional learning with unforgettable local experiences. Participants enjoy exclusive access to producers, chefs, destination leaders, and cultural experts while building valuable international connections with fellow attendees.
FREQUENT QUESTIONS ABOUT TASTE OF PLACE STUDY TOURS
Who should attend a Taste of Place Study Tour?
Our study tours are designed for destination marketing organizations, tourism boards, government agencies, hospitality professionals, tour operators, researchers, educators, chefs, food producers, and anyone interested in gastronomy tourism and destination development. Whether you are responsible for shaping a destination or simply want to deepen your understanding of Taste of Place, you'll find both practical insights and valuable professional connections.
How many people can participate?
To ensure a highly interactive and personal experience, participation is limited to just 20 guests. Small group sizes allow for meaningful conversations, exclusive access to local hosts, and opportunities that larger tours simply cannot offer.
What makes these study tours different from a typical culinary tour?
Taste of Place Study Tours are educational experiences rather than traditional sightseeing tours. In addition to enjoying exceptional food and drink, participants gain behind-the-scenes access to producers, destination leaders, chefs, cultural experts, and tourism professionals. You'll explore how destinations preserve and showcase their culinary heritage while learning ideas and best practices that can be applied in your own community.
What's included in the study tour price?
Your registration includes the educational program, scheduled meals and tastings, producer visits, guided city walks, local transportation during the program, airport transfers as specified, and the support of a local ambassador throughout the tour.
What isn't included?
International airfare or train travel to the destination, accommodation, travel insurance, visas (if required), personal expenses, and beverages or meals outside the published itinerary are not included. Participants book and pay for these separately.
Why isn't accommodation included?
We recognize that participants have different budgets and accommodation preferences. By allowing guests to book their own hotel, you have the flexibility to choose the option that best suits your needs. We recommend a conveniently located hotel and negotiate a group rate whenever possible.
How much walking should I expect?
Participants should be comfortable walking through historic town centers, local markets, vineyards, and farms. Most walks are leisurely, with frequent stops, but comfortable walking shoes are strongly recommended. If you are unable to walk longer distances, you can wait in the transport van for the group to return.
Can dietary restrictions or food allergies be accommodated?
Yes. Most dietary requirements and food allergies can be accommodated with advance notice. Please let us know your requirements in writing as early as possible so we can coordinate with our local partners.
Do I need travel insurance?
We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance that includes trip cancellation, medical coverage, and emergency assistance. Participants are responsible for arranging their own insurance before traveling.
Can I bring my spouse or partner?
Absolutely. Spouses and partners are welcome to participate, provided they register for the study tour. Because group sizes are limited, every participant must reserve a place.
Is this tour suitable for leisure travelers?
Although the itinerary includes exceptional food, wine, and cultural experiences, these are professional study tours designed primarily for learning, networking, and destination development. Participants gain insights that extend well beyond a traditional vacation experience.
How do I reserve my place?
A 50% deposit is required to confirm your reservation. Please contact us through our Contact Us page or WhatsApp number to confirm your seat. Because places are limited, we recommend registering as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
What happens if the itinerary changes?
Occasionally, adjustments may be necessary due to seasonal conditions, availability, or local circumstances. If changes are required, we will substitute experiences of comparable quality while maintaining the educational objectives of the program.
Why does WFTA organize Taste of Place Study Tours?
Taste of Place Study Tours are an extension of the World Food Travel Association's mission to help destinations recognize, protect, develop, and showcase their unique culinary cultures. Each tour provides an opportunity to learn directly from destinations that have successfully preserved their culinary heritage while creating memorable visitor experiences.
