Wines can also be sampled at enotecas scattered near vineyards, and during the warm months open-air enotecas spring up along the roadsides. Pergolas of Slovene-named trattorie, and picnic tables under grape vines or trees, are crowded with locals imbibing as soon as breakfast is done, especially on the cooler hills overlooking the vineyards in the hazy heat below. You can make a thrifty variation on this custom and bring your wine and picnic to the two lush and shady parks in the area. The Parco Naturale Bosco Romagno, just before the Venica winery, is small but perfectally suitable to the idea, with picnic tables under a canopy of trees along a stream and a playground for children. The Parco Naturale Plessiva, literally a stone's throw from Slovenia, is larger, and has trails through a wooded section where foxes and other wild animals abound.
Ample space is available near the playgrounds for an impromptu lunch.
The cool stillness we found there made the search worthwhile. In the Collio's fine restaurants many of the wines can best be tasted in their proper element of Adriatic seafood, pungent game and seasoned cheese dishes influenced by Slovene and Austrian traditions. The efficient Consorzio has made restaurant selection easy, albeit pricey, for tourists looking for a traditional gourmet menu. There are also the 500 wineries, or aziende, to choose from for a purchasing visit, best scheduled in advance from Monday through Friday. From that, you can pick which wine and winery to hunt down.