Wine experiences in Maribor – the European Best Wine Capital 2026

Discover the destination chosen by European Best Destinations as the European Best Wine Capital 2026. Explore wine cellars, taste wines from the Štajerska region and discover wine routes in and around the city.

Why is Maribor the European Wine Capital 2026?

Maribor is home to the world’s oldest vine and has a rich wine-growing tradition. Slovenia’s second-largest city is surrounded by the Štajerska wine-growing region, the largest wine-growing district in Slovenia, renowned for its fresh, aromatic wines. The city on the Drava River is also home to one of the oldest and largest wine cellars in Europe, and hosts some of the biggest wine-related events, such as the Oldest Vine Festival.Maribor is home to the world’s oldest vine and has a rich wine-growing tradition. Slovenia’s second-largest city is surrounded by the Štajerska wine-growing region, the largest wine-growing district in Slovenia, renowned for its fresh, aromatic wines. The city on the Drava River is also home to one of the oldest and largest wine cellars in Europe, and hosts some of the biggest wine-related events, such as the Oldest Vine Festival.

This exceptional wine heritage has earned Maribor the title of the European Best Wine Capital 2026, awarded by European Best Destinations.

Discover Maribor – the European Best Wine Capital 2026

The world’s oldest vine

the more than 450-year-old grape variety Žametovka or Modra Kavčina (Bleu de Cologne)

Vinag 1847

One of the largest and oldest traditional wine cellars in Europe (around 15,000 m²)

Wine-growing district

Štajerska, Slovenia

Grape varieties

Šipon, Welschriesling, Sauvignon, Rhine Riesling, Chardonnay, Traminer, Ranfol, Ranina

Wine routes

Gornje slovenjegoriška Wine Route, Maribor Wine Rout, Podpohorska Wine Route

The Old Vine along the facade of a historic building on a cobbled town square, bathed in sunlight beneath a clear blue sky.

The world’s oldest vine

In Lent, Maribor’s historic district on the banks of the Drava River, grows a vine more than 450 years old. This vine of the Žametovka (Modra Kavčina) variety is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s oldest vine.

The vine stretches across the façade of the Old Vine House, which houses a museum dedicated to its remarkable story and a wine boutique offering a selection of more than 200 wines from Štajerska. Enhance your visit with a wine tasting or embark on a journey through centuries of the vine’s remarkable history using a virtual reality headset.

The oldest vine also has its own festival, the highlight of which is the ceremonial harvest of its grapes. Every two years, the festival crowns a new Maribor Wine Queen, who serves as an ambassador for the world’s oldest vine and Štajerska’s rich wine heritage.

Visit the world’s oldest vine

Wine cellar illuminated by candles, with large wooden barrels, a stone-vaulted ceiling, and a wine bottle on a table in the foreground.

Vinag Wine Cellar: One of Europe’s largest historic wine cellars

Beneath the bustling streets of Maribor’s city centre lies a true underground city of wine. The Vinag Wine Cellar is one of the largest and oldest traditional wine cellars in Europe, where history comes to life in its stone corridors, wooden barrels and thousands of bottles quietly ageing in the darkness. Its oldest sections date back to 1847. The cellar covers approximately 15,000 m² of underground space and features more than two kilometres of tunnels. It is home to around 85,000 bottles of vintage wine.

Join a guided tour through the cellar’s extensive network of tunnels and choose from a variety of wine tastings.

Visit the Vinag Wine Cellar

Glass of amber-colored wine beside a selection of cheeses, grapes, and dried fruit in a warm, softly lit setting.

Wines from Štajerska: Fresh and aromatic

The Štajerska wine-growing district ranks among the finest wine regions in the world. Its steep vineyards, cultivated largely by hand, are exposed to pronounced temperature fluctuations between day and night, resulting in lively acidity and a distinctive aromatic character in the wines.

The region's most characteristic grape varieties are Šipon, Welschriesling, Sauvignon, Rhine Riesling, Chardonnay and Traminer. Among the local specialities are Ranina and the traditional Ranfol, while high-quality sparkling wines and sustainably produced wines are also playing an increasingly important role.

Discover Štajerska region wines

The best wine experiences in Maribor

Taste, experience and explore Maribor through its wine stories. Visit boutique, contemporary and historic wine cellars, meet local winemakers, and discover experiences that bring together wine tradition, Štajerska region wines and Maribor’s vibrant contemporary gastronomic scene.

A gourmet getaway for rockers at heart

A five-star rock ’n’ roll of tastes will take you to Maribor’s gourmet spots and fill you with nostalgia for the city’s rock ‘n’ roll character of the 1960s. The experience is a unique blend of gastronomy and alternative cultural life that will make you rightfully cry out: “Rock on!”

A gourmet getaway for rockers at heart

Secrets of the world’s oldest vine: From museum to wine tasting

Visit the museum dedicated to the world’s oldest vine, where you can explore the vine’s 450-year history and trace the development of Maribor as a wine-growing centre. Using a virtual reality headset, experience the different historical periods that the old vine has lived through. Round off your visit with a tasting of selected Štajerska region wines.

Tour and wine tasting at the Vinag Wine Cellar

Descend beneath the lively streets of Maribor and explore one of the largest and oldest traditional wine cellars in Europe. Wander through more than two kilometres of underground passages and discover the history of winemaking in Maribor among imposing barrels and an extensive wine archive. Complete the experience with a tasting of selected wines.

Tasting of three wines at the Old Vine House

Immerse yourself in the flavours of the Štajerska region and, during a guided tasting, sample three selected wines from local winemakers. Learn about their characteristics and stories, and discover how the wine-growing landscape, centuries of expertise and contemporary creativity shape the character of Štajerska region wines.

Explore Maribor with a picnic basket of local delicacies

Make the most of your time in Maribor and the surrounding area by taking a picnic basket filled with locally sourced produce from nearby farms, wineries, and growers. This way, you can get to know Maribor and the Štajerska region through a selection of carefully chosen flavours.

Wine cellars and wine shops in Maribor and the surrounding area

In Maribor, visit popular wine boutiques and wine bars, then head to the surrounding countryside to discover Štajerska region wines at their source. Visit the region's finest winemakers and, in their cellars, savour the freshness and aromatic character of top-quality Štajerska region wines.

Taste Štajerska region wines in wine boutiques and at wineries

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Kobal Wines

The Kobal Wines brand brings wines from selected vineyards of Slovenian Styria to the wine map, with most of them coming from the steep slopes of Haloze.

Verus

Verus was founded by three friends and winemakers, Rajko Žličar, Danilo Šnajder and Božidar Grabovac. They brought together their family vineyards, knowledge and hard work.

Familija Estate

Familija Estate is the estate of the Brodnjak family, who have been cultivating vineyards and growing grapes for many years. The winery’s flagship wine is Sauvignon Blanc, which excellently expresses the distinctive character of Haloze.

Sanctum

The boutique family-owned Sanctum winery is also known as Slovenia’s Burgundy-style winery, as its flagship wines are made from two traditional Burgundy varieties: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Steyer Wines

On the family estate, the largest share of the vineyard area is dedicated to Gewürztraminer, a variety that thrives exceptionally well in the Radgona-Kapela wine-growing district.

Plateis Wines

According to oral tradition, vineyards were already cultivated by monks of a French religious order at the former Plateis vineyard estate, meaning that the winemaking tradition dates back some 250 years.

Hiša Joannes Protner

The family-owned Hiša Joannes Protner estate, led by Boštjan Protner, is located just a few kilometres from Maribor and has 13 hectares of vineyards. Half of the vineyards are currently undergoing conversion to organic farming.

The Puklavec Family Wines

Allow yourself to get enchanted by the wines from one of the largest wineries in Slovenia with more than 80 years old winery tradition, which has been run by the Puklavec family since 2009.

Vinag 1847 Wine Cellar

Stroll through underground tunnels among wooden barrels and thousands of bottles of archive wine in one of the largest and oldest classic wine cellars in Europe, located beneath Maribor.

Radgonske Gorice Hills, Gornja Radgona

In Gornja Radgona, the home of the oldest Slovenian sparkling wine, it is worth taking a tour of the Under the Roman Wheel, Under the Waterfall, and Under the Rock cellars, treasure troves of vintage sparkling wines, and the Home of Sparkling Wine.

Ptujska klet winery, Ptuj

The oldest wine cellar in Slovenia invites you to experience wine with audio and light effects. The wine tasting in this cellar, which also houses the oldest vintage wine, dating from 1917, is a show for all the senses.

Zlati Grič Wine Cellar, Slovenske Konjice

Embraced by the vast vineyards in the Škalce Hills above Slovenske Konjice there is the Zlati Grič Wine Cellar, today one of the most modern wine cellars in Europe.

Wine House Leber

At the Leber family agritourism farm, they will pamper your taste buds with their wines and local delicacies in the modern and bright rooms of the House of Wine, and invite you to the wine cellar where the most exquisite wine flavours are born.

Gaube Wine

Where the road meanders between the vineyards in the shape of a heart, feel the courageous story of the wine-growing Gaube family. In addition to the wines, the family is renowned for their superb cuisine.

Valdhuber Wines

Treat yourself to a short break in the embrace of vineyards at Valdhuber, a modern agritourism family farm. The noble flavours of their wines mature in the cellar, blending perfectly with the farm's local flavours.

Doppler House Wines

Located between the Šentilj hills and the poetic valley is the modern Doppler House of Wine, which, along with tasting of house wines, also offers you a wonderful panoramic view of the rolling vineyards.

Tourist farm Toplak

In the heart of the Slovenske Gorice hills lies the village of Juršinci, just 12 kilometres from Ptuj. Perched on a hill is the Moj dom tourist farm, surrounded by 12 hectares of vineyards.

Taverna Kupljen

The Kupljen wine estate in Jeruzalem–Svetinje, in Slovenian Styria, Slovenia, is a traditional family-owned winery belonging to Samo Kupljen.

Dveri Pax, Jarenina

In the arched wine cellar of Jarenina Manor, which has the tradition of an old monastery cellar, you can taste world-class wines made from hand-picked grapes.

Kogl Winery

Kogl Winery, dating back to 1542, is situated on a gentle hill above Velika Nedelja, offering magnificent views of the surrounding countryside. For more than thirty years, Franci Cvetko has been crafting exceptional wines from the finest grapes.

Emino Wine House

At Emino Wine House, where wine has been at home for many years, excellence has been given a special place and purpose.

Wine routes: From the city to the vineyards

To discover Štajerska region wines at their source, explore the wine routes around Maribor. The Maribor Wine Route (Mariborska vinska cesta) takes you through vineyards and past scenic viewpoints in the immediate vicinity of the city. The Podpohorska Wine Route (Podpohorska vinska cesta) introduces you to winemakers and local cuisine at the foot of Pohorje. The Gornje slovenjegoriška Wine Route (Gornje slovenjegoriška vinska cesta) will captivate you with the rolling landscape of Slovenske gorice. Be sure to visit the heart-shaped road winding through the vineyards of Svečinske gorice.

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Maribor wine-tourist road

If you like to ride uphill, you can take a ride along the Maribor wine-tourist road and drink in the views of the city and its surroundings from the hills, such as Kalvarija and Piramida.

Podpohorska wine-tourist road

The Podpohorska wine-tourist road will take you along the sunny edges of Pohorje between Ruše and Zreče into the heart of the Limuš – Pekre hills and to the Dravinja hills.

Upper Slovenske gorice wine-tourist road

The Upper Slovenske gorice wine-tourist road will also bring you to the famous Špičnik, the heart-shaped road among the vineyards. Cycling along this route in the autumn can also be complemented with...

Wine events in Maribor

Maribor celebrates its wine tradition throughout the year, with the liveliest festivities taking place during the grape harvest season and around St Martin's Day. Visit events where Štajerska region wines come together with local cuisine, traditions, music and the city's vibrant social scene.

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Festival of the Oldest Vine, Maribor

The largest wine festival is dedicated to the oldest vine in the world. This wine, culinary and cultural festival takes place at the end of September, culminating in the ceremonial harvest of the oldest...

Velvet Dinner

At Maribor’s main open-air culinary event, more than 150 guests gather around a long communal table to enjoy contemporary dishes from refined menus paired with a selection of award-winning Štajerska region...

St Martin's Day in Maribor

St Martin's Day is the most important celebration for winemakers in Slovenia, when must becomes young wine. The celebration extends beyond the vineyards, with the largest St Martin's Day event in Slovenia...

Experience Maribor from a different perspective

Maribor lies between wine-growing hills and the green slopes of Pohorje. Complement your wine experience with outdoor activities, the discovery of Maribor’s cultural heritage or a taste of the city’s contemporary gastronomy.

Visit Maribor

In the footsteps of wine

Discover all three of Slovenia’s wine-growing regions, their distinctive characteristics and typical wines. Explore Štajerska and find out why it was named one of the European Best Destinations in 2026. Explore the vineyards and indulge in some of the finest wine experiences the region has to offer.

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Cycling amid the vineyards

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Stories from Slovenia

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Wine experiences in Maribor – the European Best Wine Capital 2026