Maribor’s Old Vine Retains Its Crown: The World’s Oldest Noble Grapevine Still Producing Fruit

Growing on the Drava riverbank for more than four centuries, the Old Vine is a defining symbol of Maribor and of Slovenia’s viticultural heritage. It embodies the long winemaking tradition of the Podravje wine region and connects generations of winemakers, residents and visitors.

The Old Vine was officially included in the Guinness World Records in 2004, based on a scientific analysis from 1972 that confirmed its age to be between 350 and 400 years. It belongs to the subspecies Vitis vinifera ssp. vinifera, comprising cultivated grape varieties intentionally developed and preserved by humans over centuries. Of roughly 10,000 recognised varieties, only a few hundred have significant commercial value — and the Maribor variety Žametna črnina is proudly among them.

Stane Kocutar, custodian of the Old Vine, emphasises the distinction: “The discovery of the wild Tibetan grapevine is a remarkable botanical curiosity, but it does not affect the status of the Old Vine on Maribor’s Lent. I have long said the world likely hides surprises related to age records, especially in regions such as the Caucasus. Should a cultivated grapevine one day surpass Maribor’s Old Vine in age, I would propose creating a new designation: ‘the oldest noble, still fruit-bearing grapevine in an urban environment’. It is also worth noting the broader context of China’s increasing presence on the global wine map.”

Jure Struc, Director of the Maribor Tourist Board, adds: “The Old Vine is a cornerstone of our city’s identity. More than a tourist attraction, it is a living symbol of history, culture and community. Its descendants grow on four continents – over 150 in Slovenia and more than 100 abroad. Together with the Municipality of Maribor and our partners, we will continue to build on this extraordinary story. Rather than diminishing its importance, new global discoveries only reinforce the value of the Old Vine as a defining feature of Maribor and a respected ambassador of our region.”

Source: Maribor Tourist Board
Photo: Andrej Tarfila

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