AGRICULTURE

In 1852, chaplain Štefan Kocijančič described karst agriculture with the following words: "What the Kraševci manage to produce on their fields, is usually very good. Such a shame the crops are so few. Karst wheat cannot be beaten when it comes to flavour. The same holds true for barley and rye. If they manage to produce any other cereal, it is nothing but goodness. The Kraševci also sow buckwheat and turnips. Planting potatoes was popular before it would start to rot. Legumes have also found their way to the fields. Karst wine is not too bad at all. The people of Trieste drink a lot of good karst wine, and they like to pay dearly for it. This black (or red, as a matter of fact) wine is usually called Teran."

Karst agriculture is of a special kind - due to the rocky landscape and little fertile red soil, it demands a lot of hard work from the farmer. Because water is scarce, karst produce is genuine, firm and very flavourful. These crops are full of life, because they refuse to perish between the rocks. Lately, we have seen a revival in karst agriculture, particularly winegrowing. With exceptional products, the karst farmers have been winning over the international public and reconfirming the excellent reviews their ancestors received in the 19th century.