Maribor has been named the European Best Wine Capital 2026 by the leading tourism platform European Best Destinations. Recognised for its exceptional winegrowing tradition, the world’s oldest noble vine, authentic character and high-quality wine, culinary and cultural offer, Maribor ranked ahead of Bordeaux and Porto.
Maribor has once again risen to the top of international tourism rankings – this time as the heart of European wine culture. The leading global tourism platform European Best Destinations (EBD) has named Maribor the European Best Wine Capital 2026. Among numerous renowned European wine capitals, Maribor claimed first place as the city of the world’s oldest noble vine, distinguished by its unique combination of rich heritage, outstanding gastronomy and a vibrant cultural scene. The announcement of Europe’s top wine destinations was also covered by Forbes.
With this prestigious title, Maribor joins the ranks of Europe’s most distinguished wine destinations in 2026, alongside Bordeaux in second place and Porto in third. According to European Best Destinations, the Styrian capital stands out for its exceptional tradition of viticulture and winemaking, its globally unique symbol – the world’s oldest noble vine – its authenticity, the absence of mass tourism, and the high quality of its overall offer.
Jure Struc, Director of the Maribor Tourism Board, commented: “The title of European Best Wine Capital 2026 represents an exceptional opportunity for partnership and international positioning. It allows us to go beyond the city limits and directly connect winemakers, restaurateurs, experience providers, cultural institutions and tourism stakeholders from Maribor, Styria and across Slovenia into a shared story. Together with partners such as Ptuj, Europe’s best cultural heritage city, and Styria as one of Europe’s leading destinations, we are successfully pursuing our ambition to position the wider Styrian region – and ultimately Slovenia – on the global map.”
As part of the new title, the Maribor Tourism Board will carry out targeted international promotion throughout 2026, focusing on higher-value visitors and travellers seeking authentic wine, culinary and cultural experiences. Already at the 5th Maribor Tourism Forum, taking place on 5 February 2026, Maribor will be joined by the destination Porto, ranked third among Europe’s best wine destinations, which will present its experiences and development approaches.
European Best Destinations selected Europe’s Best Wine Destinations 2026 following an evaluation of more than 120 wine-growing destinations. A shortlist of 31 cities was compiled based on their historical winegrowing traditions, international recognition and the development of wine tourism offerings. The final ranking was determined using expert criteria, including wine quality and reputation, sustainability practices, wine tourism infrastructure and gastronomy, the integration of culture and wine, destination accessibility, and value for money.
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