Evenings of wine tales in Maribor

Visit the oldest vine in the world

There are not many countries where you can stroll and cycle in the midst of vast vineyards spreading across hills and terraces. In Slovenia, which is a small-scale Europe, this is possible! Feel the story of the Slovenian vine in Maribor, the second largest Slovenian city and the wine capital with the oldest vine in the world. This First Wine Lady is nearly half a millennium old and currently resides in the Old Vine House where from 13 February to 9 May seven wine-related evenings will take place and attract many a lover of quality wine.

The events in the capital of the Štajerska region, where you can literally bump into a vineyard in the middle of the town, began in February, on St. Valentine’s Day, with an evening of chocolate cuisine and wine. Other intoxicating wine gatherings will be held in the spirit of Women’s Day, sparkling wines and the painting of Easter eggs – Slovenian painted eggs are among the most interesting in Europe. At this time, the most successful wine-growing districts from all of the three Slovenian wine-growing regions will be presented in Maribor.

With its over 400 years, the Old Vine is the oldest vine in the world and the best-known ethnographic site in Maribor. The vine still yields 50 kilograms of delicious grapes of the "Žametovka" and "Modra kavčina" varieties, two of the oldest vine varieties in Slovenia. You can learn more interesting facts about the rich wine heritage that marks the eastern winegrowing part of Slovenia at a permanent exhibition in the Old Vine House.

Did you know that Slovenian winegrowing locations rank among 5 percent of the best winegrowing locations in the world? Slovenia produces some of the highest-quality and best-known wine types in the world and is proud of its indigenous wine. Local Slovenian varieties such as Teran, Refošk, Zelen and Cviček are known around the world and go well with traditional Slovenian dishes. The 24 culinary regions confirm the saying that in Slovenia love goes through the stomach.

Wine tradition plays an important role in Slovenian storytelling as well. A Slovenian folk tale about the Flood recounts that in the days of yore its hero escaped the Flood by climbing to the very top of a vine on a hill where he waited for Kurent, the Slovenian god of joy, to save him. To this day, Kurent is the most famous traditional Slovenian Carnival figure. He has just chased the winter away, welcomed the spring and brought luck at the Kurentovanje festival in Ptuj as well as at other Carnival events.

This year Carnival power led by Kurents ended on 4 March with the burial of the Carnival. You can catch glimpses of the largest Slovenian Carnival by clicking here.

Back to news