This is arguably the best winegrowing area in the Podravje region: while the smallest, it has the highest density of ideal viticultural sites. This is an area of low rounded hills composed of partly consolidated mid-Tertiary sediments. The soil is sandstone-clay and more fertile compared to neighbouring areas. Since the hills are lower than in neighbouring Haloze and Srednje Slovenske Gorice, the erosion is much less intense.
The area lies between the Drava River to the southwest and the Mura to the northeast; the cooling effect of the two rivers makes the climate more balanced than in neighbouring areas. Cooler winds from the hilly country to the northwest moderates the summer heat, and the effects of the Pannonian climate from the southeast guarantee adequate warmth in the autumn. Summers tend to be as hot on the average as in Prekmurje, but spells of scorching heat are rare and rainfall is more abundant, although droughts are not quite unknown.
The gently rounded relief, fertile soils, warm and balanced climate, and sufficient rainfall make many sites here ideal for viticulture, and winegrowing has a truly long tradition in this area. An interesting anecdotal detail: a rather famous site in the area is called "Jeruzalem." Legend has it that an expedition of Crusaders (not very devout ones, it appears) arrived here, noted that the wine was good and the people hospitable, and simply decreed that they had reached the Biblical Jerusalem and went no further.
The vineyards of this area are quite characteristic: the traditional vineyards are formed horizontally with individual rows following the contour of the land exactly - the hilltops are surrounded by isometric lines drawn with grapevines.
Numerous small producers bottle wine from their own vineyards, but the two large centers of viticulture are Ljutomer and Ormo§. As in Haloze to the west, white wines are the traditional product of this area, but some producers also achieve outstanding results with red wines, most notably the Modri Pinot.
With the climate, soils, and topography so perfectly suited to viticulture, the Jeruzalem-Ormo§ area can afford to produce all the types of white wines that are cultivated throughout Podravje. All its wines achieve excellent quality, but the Beli Pinot can be regarded as the champion of champions. Jeruzalem-Ormo§ is also famous for its æipon, an acid-rich wine with a noble bouquet; some ampelographers believe that the grapevine is autochthonous to this area.
Wines of special quality have a particularly long tradition in this area: late harvest, suhi jagodni izbor, and Ice wines.
The best known blends of the area are JeruzalemŸan and LjutomerŸan. The former contains Sauvignon, Beli Pinot, Renski Rizling, and Laçki Rizling - the wine is fresh and quite rich in acids. LjutomerŸan is a blend of Laçki Rizling, Renski Rizling, and Chardonnay, and other white varieties may be added depending on the vintage.
The largest production centers are Ljutomer and Ormo§ where local cooperatives produce and bottle the majority of the area's wine. The archive in Ormo§ stores the largest Slovene collection of wines of special quality, over 32,000 bottles, the oldest being from 1956.
