The circular hiking trail winds along the scenic slopes of the Gorjanci Hills, through vineyards, forests, and meadows. Along the way, winemakers at the so-called 'gadova gnezda' (snake nests) offer culinary specialties, and wine enthusiasts are well-catered for with an excellent selection of wines.
The hikers began their journey at the event area in Gadova peč. After a brief introduction to the trail, they set off towards Jugovec, continued through Vrhovska vas, and climbed to the first 'gadovo gnezdo' at the Andrijaševi family in Razkrižje. A descent to Belinje followed, where they visited the Kuntarič wine cellar, tasting this year’s young wine and a buckwheat cake with cottage cheese.
At the Kus wine cellar, they enjoyed homemade cured meats, and soon after, the morning mist gave way to sunshine, revealing stunning views of the Posavsko-Zasavsko Hills. The trail continued along a dirt path, leading to the Štrlek stream's spring, where Franc and Zdenka Kvaruh welcomed the hikers at a pond. The route then ascended to Poštena vas, continuing across meadows and into the forest, where they gathered chestnuts.
The next stop was in Grublje, where Vesna warmly welcomed them at the Komotar wine cellar, offering delicious sandwiches and dried fruit. From there, they climbed through Topolova Draga to the highest point of the trail, Gadova peč, where they visited a traditional 'Vlaški hram' (Vlasic house), which the local winemaking society plans to turn into a winemaking museum. The hikers then visited Alenka and Jani Drinovec, sampling this year’s wine, before ascending to Gramčevi's wooden wine cellar, where they were treated to a variety of strudels. On the descent, they stopped at the old Vlaški hram, where they learned about the area’s rich history.
For the final leg of the journey, they visited the Zakšek wine cellar, enjoying chestnut cake, and concluded the hike at the home of Ivan Urbanec, president of VTD Gadova peč, and Zdenka, who prepared a delicious meal served with the best of Zdenka’s mayor's wine.
The beautiful autumn day attracted many hikers from all parts of Slovenia. The area’s fascinating history and the hospitality of the wine cellar owners were highly praised, with many promising to return next year.
