Is water tasting the next big thing in sustainable travel? I went to the Bled Water Festival to find out. I also met water sommeliers who treat water like a fine wine. And I even tasted water cocktails. Watch the VIDEO here:
What is the Bled Water Festival?
The Bled Water Festival (BWF) is an annual event in Lake Bled, Slovenia. With top things to do in Lake Bled all year long, it is a dream vacation destination.
During the festival, a two-day Bled Water Forum brings together water experts and tourism officials from 25 countries. It takes place at Vila Bled, former residence of Yugoslavia’s leader Tito and now a luxury hotel.
This is the view from the Belvedere coffee house at Vila Bled, where Yugoslavian leader Josip Broz Tito once entertained the world’s dignitaries. Guests could take a break from tasting and talking about water to visit the scenic island church in the middle of Lake Bled.
What is a Water Sommelier?
The Bled Water Festival certifies members of the European Water Sommelier Association. Certified sommeliers evaluate the taste and mineral content of water and recommend pairings with food. You’ll hear a lot of talk about TDS, a measurement for mineral content.
“I find it surprising that we have vocabulary for whiskey, gin, tea wine, every single beverage on this earth has a vocabulary where we can describe it and give it value, but we don’t have this for water,” said Milin Patel, a certified water sommelier from the UK. “Mother Nature has more flavors than Pepsi Cola and Coca Cola put together. There is no fairytale of a drink made in a factory.”
Water sommelier Haneul Kim from South Korea introduces me to water that is harvested from the deep sea. Not surprisingly, it pairs well with seafood. Similar ocean waters are produced in Japan, Taiwan, Norway and in Hawaii, USA.
How to Make a Water Cocktail
A highlight of the Bled Water Festival was a tasting of water cocktails. I tasted one called “Red Goldness,” a mixture of beetroot, lime, honey and ginger, mixed with the mineral water of your choice and topped with a sprig of rosemary.
If you look closely at this photo, you can see how the choice of mineral water affects the color of a water cocktail. It also affects the taste.
Water and Sustainable Tourism
“My number one recommendation is that you drink our tap water,” said the Iceland’s First Lady, Eliza Jean Reid, delivering the keynote address at the Bled Water Forum. Water sommeliers told me that the low mineral content of Icelandic water from deep underground wells makes it a healthy choice for pairing with food.
Slovenia is among the countries promoting its pristine Alpine water as a tourism benefit. Ljubljana even has an app that tells visitors where to fill up reusable water bottles with the tap water in the capital city. The role of spring water in spa treatments has made Lake Bled a wellness destination since the 1800s.
The hot new buzzword at the Bled Water Festival is “microplastics.” Researchers from the University of Ljubljana assured the audience that people drink the equivalent of an entire credit card per year. Other experts challenged this claim, saying that scientists don’t have a standardized method for measuring microplastics in the environment. But the lack of data didn’t stop speakers from calling for “swift adoption of stricter regulations.”
How to Enjoy Water Tasting
According to the certified sommeliers, it’s usually best to pair the local food with locally sourced mineral water. Slovenia’s Radenska spring water is recommended for meat-heavy Slovenian cuisine due to its mineral content. But watch out for Donat, the Slovenian bottled water with the highest mineral content. Slovenes have long relied on it as a remedy for constipation.
Try the local tap water if it’s safe to do so. Look for natural carbonation or unusual waters like the Bal Bin from Czech Republic that is carbonated with offset gas from fermentation at a winery. That gives the flavor of a chardonnay or a merlot without adding alcohol.
There were tons of choices on this buffet at the Bled Water Festival.
How to Avoid the Biggest Water Tasting Mistake
In general, water tasting enthusiasts shun plastic bottles, which increases the risk of exposure to microplastics. A recyclable glass bottle is the preferred way to assure your chosen water retains its original characteristics. If glass isn’t available, bring your own refillable water container. And if you must buy a plastic water bottle because of concerns about what’s coming from the tap, please recycle responsibly.
The president of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc-Musar, and Iceland First Lady Eliza Jean Reid were among the dignitaries at the 2024 Bled Water Festival, along with water experts and sommelier from all over the world. Seriously, why doesn’t this event get more coverage by international news media?
Terry’s Travel Tips
Check out my top tips for planning a trip to Slovenia if you’d like to attend the next Bled Water Festival. More information is on the BWF website. And keep an eye out for destinations around the world that have been honored with the BWF certificate of excellence for meeting the highest standards of water quality as determined by sommeliers and other experts.
Getting to Lake Bled: Ljubljana is the nearest airport, but you can also drive from neighboring Italy, Austria or Croatia.
Where to stay in Lake Bled: Lake Bled offers a wide range of hotel choices, but book early in the peak summer season. I loved the family-run Penzion Mayer with an amazing breakfast just steps away from the town and the lake. Thanks for clicking on the hotel links to browse reviews and book. The clicks help to support this blog at no cost to you.
Want more stories about fun, sustainable travel away from the crowds? Strangers in the Living Room is always based on my personal experiences and no AI content ever. And please subscribe to my free monthly newsletter so you won’t miss any new posts. More travel videos @TerryAnzur on Youtube.
