The oldest grape vine in the world can be found in Slovenia
One of the highlights of our Eastern Chronicles road trip to Slovenia was seeing the oldest grape vine in the world. Blanka, our guide in stunning Maribor, kept this natural treasure for the final stop on our city tour.
The Old Vine (this is its most popular name) is located on the shore of the Drava River, spreading over the facade of a historical building. At first glance, one barely notices it, especially in the colder seasons. But the Old Vine hides a pretty fascinating story.
It is said that this vine has been here for nearly 500 years, growing and bearing fruit to this day. The ritual annual grape harvest yields 35 to 55 kg annually, which fills more than 100 miniature bottles. The grapes are of the Žametovka (or Modra kavčina) type — one of the oldest domesticated varieties of noble grapes in Slovenia.
The plant’s old age is confirmed by two paintings of Maribor, dating from 1657 and 1681. Carefully preserved in the Regional Museum of Maribor, both paintings depict the Old Vine on a trellis on the frontage of a house at Vojasniska ulica, No. 8, which was already standing in the 16th century, according to archive data. “In the two paintings mentioned, right at the town gate there is a clearly distinguishable trellis with a vine, which for 340 years grew exuberantly all over the southern frontage of the house… We can conclude that in 1657 the Old Vine was at least 100 years old.” We found this explanation in the same old house, in a historical account in the Old Vine museum, where a wine cellar and souvenir shop are also maintained.
Over time, the Old Vine has gone through some hard times too: in the 20th century, for instance, many hydroelectric power stations were built on the Drava River, which led to a rise in subterranean water levels, ultimately contributing to the vine’s decline.
Fortunately, in 1981, the Institution for the Protection of Natural and Cultural Heritage of Maribor passed a special decree to protect the Old Vine. That same year, a group of specialists began to save the dying plant. They cut off all the dry or dead parts of the vine and carefully nurtured it. After a few years of radical expert treatment, the Old Vine began to spread again over the renovated facade of the building and bore her first grapes in years. Finally, in 2004, the Old Vine was officially recognised by Guinness World Records.
I’m feeling quite lucky to have seen this natural wonder with my own eyes; before visiting Maribor, I had no idea of its existence. I just hope that it will be there for many centuries to come. If you ever visit Maribor, don’t miss out, as the vine symbolises the rich wine culture of beautiful Slovenia.
Photo credit: Flavius Neamciuc
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