The Oldest Vine in the World – Maribor, Slovenia
Along Vojasniska Street at number 8 in a small city in the North-East of Slovenia you will find an old building with a grape vine winding its way up the front of the building. The building is located on the left bank of the River Drava and it is this vine that has survived two world wars, numerous revolutions and of course all of natures wild tests. It is the oldest grape vine in the world, you want proof? Just check out the Guinness Book of Records.
This vine is over 400-years-old and is still putting out (by this I mean, it still produces fruit!) – the Zametovka or Blue Franconian grape is one of the oldest wine types in the country. Inside the building you will find a museum or rather a shrine to the vine, which is free to enter and aims to explain about the ‘Old Vine’ as it is called by the township as well as teaching visitors about the wine culture of the Styrian region of Slovenia. A vinoteka is also found inside with an extensive range of Styrian wines you can try on the premises or take home with you.
The best time to visit the Old Vine is in September when the annual grape harvest festival occurs. Approximately 100, 25cl bottles are produced each year from the picked fruit off the vine. Over the last decade the vine has yielded roughly between 35-55kg of grapes annually. Once the wine is bottled the mayor of Maribor chooses whom to gift them to. It is not your average person either; I doubt his Mum would be lucky enough to snatch up a bottle. The lucky few who have received one over the years include; President Clinton, Pope John Paul II and the Japanese Emperor Akihito.
It is a great chance to see a part of world history, and Maribor itself is a gorgeous little town to escape away to for a weekend. Now.. I’m just wondering how good i have to be to receive a bottle from Santa this year?
Address:
Vojasniska street 8
2000 Maribor
Tel: +386 2 251 51 00
e-mail: [email protected]
– summer opening times (1st May – 1st November): from 10:00a.m. to 6:00p.m.
– winter opening times (1st November – 1st May): from 10:00a.m. to 8:00p.m.
