A cross-border collection of wines between the Franciscan Monastery of Castagnevizza
and Spessa Castle

At the border between Slovenia and Italy, an extraordinary tourism and cultural story was waiting to be discovered, as it had not yet been fully valued and developed. The cross-border area was distinguished by its rich history, outstanding gastronomy, a long-standing winemaking tradition, and exceptional natural beauty.

The project focused on connecting culture, heritage, tourism, and viticulture into a comprehensive cross-border tourism product. The starting point was the area’s exceptional yet insufficiently valorised tourism and wine-cultural potential. Visitors therefore did not have the opportunity to fully discover its story, while winemakers on both sides of the border lacked sufficient opportunities to jointly promote wines produced in the most prestigious wine-growing areas, which had already been classified during the reign of Empress Maria Theresa.

Within the framework of the project, the cross-border tourism product Wines of Friendship & Peace was established, bringing together:

• the Franciscan Monastery of Kostanjevica, where one of the key project activities was carried out: the renovation of the monastery wine cellar and the arrangement of a tasting space;
• Castello di Spessa, which brought together accommodation facilities, gastronomy, and wine- and sports-related activities;
• winemakers from both sides of the border, whose wines from the cru vineyards of the most prestigious wine-growing areas were presented to visitors and made available for tasting at a single location – the renovated monastery wine cellar;
• cultural, artistic, and culinary experiences, which complemented and enhanced the overall tourism experience.

The project solution was developed in four key phases:

• Product definition and development – a map of the cross-border cru vineyards was created, together with a historical narrative based on the classification of wines dating back to the time of Empress Maria Theresa.
• Stakeholder training – winemakers, tourist guides, and tourism product providers acquired new knowledge and competences to ensure high-quality cross-border experiences.
• Infrastructure renovation – the monastery wine cellar and tasting space were renovated, with the latter also arranged as a venue for various events.
• Organisation of cross-border events – open days, charity auctions, tastings, and other events were organised, contributing to greater visibility of the project and the cross-border wine product.

The cooperation between winemakers, tourism providers, and cultural institutions on both sides of the border made it possible to bring together history, cultural heritage, and contemporary tourism offerings into a unified cross-border product.

The stakeholders involved gained greater visibility for their products, new knowledge and competences for developing cross-border tourism products, and new opportunities for cooperation with local communities and initiatives such as GO! 2025.

At regional level, the project contributed to strengthening cultural tourism and increasing the number of tourism-related events. At the same time, it supported the financial sustainability of the new wine cellar and tasting space, established opportunities for regular tastings of cross-border wines, and fostered lasting cooperation between winemakers and cultural institutions on both sides of the border.