HIDDEN GUEST: Sibon Wine & Spa Resort

The Jeruzalem Gorice belong among Slovenia’s most scenic wine regions. For many, the picturesque hills between Ljutomer and Ormož represent the Tuscany of Slovenia. One of the reasons is the silhouette sketched by the towering poplars. The hotel’s moniker, Sibon, is connected to Napoleon and Šipon wine. Upon tasting the local wine, French soldiers supposedly chanted “C’est bon” in French (“It is good”). The locals understood this in their own way and thus gave birth to the name Šipon. The hotel got its name from this white wine sort. Where the hotel greets guests today, the Brenholc tavern was once famed among locals. After taking over, its new owner, Robert Žagar, the director of Urban Group, transformed the property into a unique wine and spa hotel for relaxation. Here, individual guests or smaller business groups can enjoy a sea of activities.

The most winding roads often lead to the most unexpectedly charming destinations! That is the case for the Slovenian region of Jeruzalem, part of a protected natural area. The easiest way to reach the hotel is by car. You can also travel by public transport, albeit this takes more time and ingenuity. Hotel Sibon has its own parking space, spacious enough for all hotel guests. You will need around two hours from the airports in Ljubljana and Zagreb and an hour and a half from Austrian Graz. The sloping wine hills are ideal for exploring the region with (electric) bicycles, which you can rent at the hotel. The ebullient employees will lovingly prepare a picnic basket for your trip so you can savour local delicacies if you become peckish after admiring the wine-growing region and its landmarks. The closest towns are Ptuj and Murska Sobota, some thirty minutes away.

The hills of the Slovenian Jeruzalem are dotted with tiny wine cellars and expansive wine estates that have undergone a renaissance in recent years. Looking up to their Austrian neighbours, a few owners have started adopting luxury wine and spa tourism. The building that houses Wine & Spa Hotel Sibon was once a restaurant with a few rooms. Still today, it merges modernity with tradition. The massive tables and chairs in the restaurant are a nod to the old design, whilst the terrace in front of the hotel, adjoining the pool, boasts a modern style. Elegant tiles from natural stone line the exterior. The hotel’s twenty-five rooms sprawl on the first floor, connected with an original wooden staircase. The gallery atop the restaurant is an inviting space for meetings or reading. A part of the interior is dedicated to wellness, offering relaxation in two saunas, a glassed space for resting and an external massage area.

From the first contact at the reception to the service in the restaurant, the staff was professional and kind. The hotel was nearly full during our stay, yet the staff were still willing to go the extra mile for each guest. They would meet any request, barring one. Upon arrival, the receptionist offered us a five-course dinner menu. We asked if we could try only a few appetisers and the main course, but he swiftly rejected our idea and underlined a selection of cold cuts would be the only alternative. Even though a tasting menu is acceptable, they could consider extending their offer. In any case, we expected the tasting menu to provide excellent value for money. The hotel website advertises haute cuisine, significantly raising the expectations of guests. In reality, the culinary product does not live up to the expectations. Sometimes, it is better to stick to tried-and-tested local dishes. There is also room for improvement at breakfast by including and mentioning local suppliers.

Hotel rooms

You can sense the wine soul of the hotel as soon as you walk from the parking at the entrance, fronted by leafy vines. The next wow moment occurs when glancing at the reception desk, embedded into an old wine press. You will be further impressed when opening the doors to the interior courtyard, dubbed the Jeruzalem Beach. Admiring the horticulture and tidy vineyards is inspiring year-round. You will find serenity and secludedness in each of the pleasant rooms. They vary in categories, but all share the same spaciousness and comfort. Tiny details, including wooden baskets, footstools and carpets, elevate the pleasant ambience created by using massive oak wood. The designer chandeliers float atop the bed like fluffy clouds. The bathroom is incredibly spacious and bright, too. It pairs an elegant wooden sink with black steel elements. A tiny remark concerns the nightstand lamps, which were too strong for our taste. Business guests could use a work desk with an adjoining chair.

Meetings Centre

The meeting hall can accommodate up to 25 attendees. It features all the necessary audio and video technical equipment and will meet any demand. They also organise social events in the wine cellar, accepting up to 35 attendees. The experienced staff will readily help you curate a compelling programme for your business or incentive event, not excluding activities in the surroundings. In any case, we suggest you get up close and personal with the winemaking tradition. Our first suggestion is to take a brisk twenty-minute walk to the Malek Wine Cellar, dating 350 years. There, you can stroll over the terraces of the vineyards, lined with all wine sorts that grow in the region of Ormož and Jeruzalem. One of the venue’s specialities is name tags on the Šipon vines, planted by famed Slovenians ten years ago.

DESSERT – The Extras

The outdoor infinity pool of Hotel Sibon, serving incredible vistas of the surrounding vineyards, is complemented by a spa centre with two saunas, a relaxation area, a massage house and two outdoor jacuzzis heated during the winter. With the help of a QR code on the sunbeds alongside the pool, you can submit your order for a desired beverage. The staff will serve you with a thankful grin.

FLOP – NEGATIVE SURPRISES

The arched wine cellar provides a pleasant ambience for breakfast. Seeing the old brick oven brings a smile to one’s face, as memories of freshly baked, homemade bread come to mind. Once guests dig into the bread, though, the taste is vastly different. We wished there were more authentic flavours in such a great ambience.

TOP – POSITIVE SURPRISES

Looking at the estate from the exterior is disparate from looking inside. Completely renovated rooms are spacious, fresh and elegant. Once you have savoured the views and hiked across the vine-growing hills, you will be delighted to return to the hygge atmosphere of the room.

SUSTAINABLE ENDEAVOURS

Restoring an old restaurant, which would otherwise have fallen into decay, and giving young locals a chance to find employment is arguably the hotel’s greatest sustainable initiative and legacy. Their next step was to offer local wine and locally sourced food and invite guests to pour tap water themselves. During our stay, we did not see any plastic, and the bathroom had commendable soap dispensers.

The bliss of uncovering lesser-known destinations is even greater when meandering roads that offer incredible views of the wine-growing region. Today, when overtourism is making headlines, locations off the beaten track are what guests cherish even more. Hospitality, pristine nature and rich cultural heritage outweigh the lengthy travels from urban centres. We must congratulate investors for recognising the estate’s potential and lovingly and responsibly transforming it into an excellent boutique hotel with sustainability in mind. During our visit, the hotel was fully booked. The structure of guests will likely change considering the direction they will chart in terms of quality and price policy. We suggest booking Hotel Sibon for your next business event or incentive programme!

FINAL GRADE: 4.91 THREE MEETING STARS⭐⭐⭐Boutique Meeting Hotel

3 MEETING STARS⭐⭐⭐ final mark from 4.81 to 5.00
2 MEETING STARS⭐⭐ final mark from 4.61 to 4.80
1 MEETING STAR⭐ final mark from 4.41 to 4.60