Stara Trta: The World's Oldest Grapevine in Maribor

Stara Trta was planted during the Ottoman invasions of the late 16th century, with the oldest preserved artistic depiction dating to 1657. Over four and a half centuries, the vine survived medieval fires, the phylloxera epidemics that devastated European viticulture, World War II bombings, and threats from rising water levels in the 1960s and 1970s. Slovenia's Institute of Agriculture, under the direction of Tone Zafošnik, carried out restoration work that secured its survival. The vine was formally entered into the Guinness Book of World Records in 2004, cementing its status as the world's oldest living grapevine still producing fruit.

• Oldest preserved artistic depiction of the vine dates to 1657
• Survived phylloxera epidemics, wartime bombings, and 1960s water level threats
• Restored by Slovenia's Institute of Agriculture under Tone Zafošnik
• Guinness World Record certification granted in 2004

The vine grows at Vojašniška ulica 8 in Maribor's Lent district, the city's oldest neighborhood, situated along the Drava River. It climbs the south-facing facade of a 16th-century house that once formed part of the medieval city walls. This position gives the vine an exceptional microclimate, benefiting from the thermal mass of the stone wall, maximum solar exposure, and the moderating influence of the nearby Drava River. Maribor sits within the Štajerska viticultural area of the Podravje wine region, where a humid continental climate is moderated by Alpine influences, with around 266 sunny days per year and July temperatures regularly exceeding 20°C.

• Located in the Lent district, Maribor's oldest neighborhood on the Drava River
• South-facing wall provides thermal mass, solar exposure, and river-moderated temperatures
• Štajerska viticultural area within the Podravje region of Slovenia
• Approximately 266 sunny days per year with 900mm annual precipitation

Stara Trta is a Žametovka vine, also known as Žametna Črnina, Modra Kavčina, and Bleu de Cologne. Žametovka is one of Slovenia's oldest domesticated red grape varieties. The vine produces a dry red wine with aromas and flavors of sour cherry and raspberry, white pepper, herbaceous notes, and a mineral salinity that reflects the limestone-rich soils in the area. Documented examples of the wine have shown aging potential of 30 years or more. The annual harvest yields roughly 25 liters, bottled in custom 250ml vessels designed by artist Oskar Kogoj. None of the wine enters commercial sale; the City of Maribor distributes it exclusively as ceremonial gifts.

• Žametovka is one of Slovenia's oldest domesticated red grape varieties
• Flavor profile includes sour cherry, raspberry, white pepper, and mineral salinity
• Yields approximately 25 liters annually, bottled in 250ml vessels by artist Oskar Kogoj
• Wine reserved exclusively for ceremonial gifting by the City of Maribor

Since 1982 the vine has been housed within the Old Vine House, known in Slovenian as Hiša Stare Trte. The building functions as a museum dedicated to the vine's history and contains a wine shop representing over 55 local winemakers with more than 200 wine labels, as well as a tasting room featuring a 35-meter mosaic depicting the history of Maribor. Each September the vine is the centerpiece of the Old Vine Festival, which includes a ceremonial grape harvest. Nearby, Vinag operates one of Europe's largest classical wine cellars, with 2.5 kilometers of underground tunnels beneath the city. Offspring grafts taken from the original vine now grow in more than 170 locations across four continents.

• Old Vine House museum opened in 1982 at Vojašniška ulica 8
• Wine shop represents 55+ local winemakers with 200+ labels
• Annual Old Vine Festival in September with ceremonial harvest
• Vinag wine cellar nearby features 2.5 kilometers of underground tunnels