Haloze is a thin stretch of hills running some thirty-one kilometers (19.3 miles) along the banks of the Drava River. Its western part is wooded with thick pine forests, while its eastern part has been a noted viticultural area since Roman times. On the west and south, Haloze touches the easternmost spurs of the Alps which rise almost to 1000 meters (3.280 ft.).
Although the Haloze area is climatically similar to the rest of Podravje, it is geologically somewhat different: its soils are mostly mid-Tertiary sandstone based on dolomite rock. Lying in the southern part of Podravje, the Haloze hills rose before the filling of the Pannonian sea entered its final phase. Consequently, the strong erosion of poorly consolidated sandstone in the last geological period produced steep hillsides. The steep slopes require terracing on many sites.
Vineyards here mostly hug the hilltops: the strongly eroded hills keep most of the lower slopes in shade. Traditional tilling of horizontally planted vineyards included the hard work of transporting the soil from the lowest row to the top. As the rows were tilled starting at the top, the soil slid one terrace lower, and to keep the vineyard in the same location, the soil collected at the bottom had to be carried back to the top. With vertical vineyards on less steep slopes, this work is no longer essential, but on most sites, grass is allowed to grow between the rows to minimize erosion.
Most of the wines grown in Haloze are produced, stored, and bottled in Ptuj in the neighbouring Srednje Slovenske Gorice area, an ancient crossroads with a long and lively history.
White wines dominate in this area. La{ki Rizling is the most popular: this is usually a semi-dry to semi-sweet wine, but Haloze also produces a delightful, smooth, dry La{ki Rizling. Other popular white wines that make the area proud are the fresh and smooth Traminec, the noble Beli Pinot, the aromatic Sauvignon, and the king of white wines, Renski Rizling. Haloze is also known for its fresh and gentle Rizvanec. The only red produced in quantity is Modri Pinot.
Halo`an is a rich, dry white wine, a blend of La{ki Rizling, Sauvignon, Beli Pinot, and [ipon that ages quite well. A particularly poor vintage Halo`an should be matured for three to four years to moderate its otherwise aggressive acids.
