The good news is that you don't need to join a group to tour the Vipava valley. A good place to orientate yourself is Ajdovscina, where the tourist office (Lokarjev drevored 8b, 00386 (0)5 366 3900, tic-ajdika-mp.si) has contact details for the wine cellars on the Vipava Valley Wine Road - these are also available on the website in English. If you are travelling independently it is wise to call ahead rather than just turning up.

A must is the Tilia Vineyard run by Matjaz and Metlia Lemut (Potoce 41, Kukarije, 6523 Dobravlje,+(0)5 364 6683), where you can pick up a bottle of wine or two from the friendly English-speaking owners, including a bottle of desert wine that retails in Alan Ducasse in New York for $150; at Tila, it will cost you just a few pounds. The Ajdovscina tourist office will be able to help you find accommodation that meets your needs, but one good bet is the 'Arkade' Tourist Farmhouse in Crnice (+(0) 5 366 6009, arkade.lajf.net) which also has a wine cellar.

If you have time, you should also consider going on to Goriska Brda where there is another wine route. This mini-Tuscany has vine-covered hills, attractive towns and a castle or two. The regional tourist office is at Trg 25 Maja, Dobrovo, (+(0) 5 395 9594, obcina.brda@guest.arnes.si.
Robin and Jenny McKelvie, authors of Slovenia: The Bradt Travel Guide and Ljubljana: The Bradt City Guide.

· If you have advice or questions, please email: ask.a.fellow.traveller@theguardian.com, or write to: Ask a fellow traveller, The Guardian, 119 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3ER.