Vineyards Near Maribor

Maribor is the capital of Slovenian Styria, a region of rolling hills and vineyards in the north-east of the country, and wine has shaped the city for centuries. The Drava flows through the town, with the wooded ridge of Pohorje rising to the south-west and the vine-covered hills of Slovenske gorice stretching to the north and east, and within and around the city, vineyards climb the slopes almost to the houses. The city's wine tradition is symbolised by the Old Vine, a vine of the variety known as Žametovka, or modra kavčina, which has grown on a house in the Lent district for more than four centuries and is recognised as the oldest vine in the world that still bears fruit. It survived the vine pest of the nineteenth century that destroyed most of Europe's vineyards, as well as wars and floods.

The Old Vine House, beside the vine, includes a small museum that tells the story of the vine and of winegrowing in the area, with displays, film and art, and a tasting room where visitors can try local wines, as part of the entrance experience. It makes a convenient starting point for a day of exploring. In the city, the old wine cellars of the Vinag company, which run in long tunnels under the town, are among the largest in the country and hold thousands of barrels, and they are known to have been established in the nineteenth century to store the wine of the region. Tours of these cellars, when offered, are a good complement to the tasting.

Beyond the city, the wine hills can be reached in a few minutes. The wine-growing districts of Štajerska produce mainly white wines, among them Welschriesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and the local Šipon, as well as sparkling wines and some reds, and the cool climate gives them freshness and acidity. Small estates offer tastings, and quiet roads lead through the vineyards, with views over the Drava valley and, on clear days, to the Alps. Excursions are also possible to Ptuj, one of the oldest towns in the country, with a castle on a hill above the river, and to the Jeruzalem hills.

Some visitors prefer to join guided wine tours that provide transport, which removes the need for a designated driver, and these can be arranged through local tourist agencies and small operators. The harvest in September and October is the liveliest time, with festivals and new wine in the cellars, and St Martin's Day, on 11 November, is the traditional day on which new wine is blessed. Beautiful architecture, the Lent district, the Drava River Promenade, Maribor Castle and the Maribor Art Gallery add to a day in the city.