Old Vine House | Maribor

Information

Landmark: Old Vine House
City: Maribor
Country: Slovenia
Continent: Europe

Old Vine House, Maribor, Slovenia, Europe

The Old Vine House is a historical building in the Lent District of Maribor, Slovenia, serving as the home to the world's oldest productive grape vine. It functions as a museum and wine tasting center situated directly on the northern bank of the Drava River.

Visual Characteristics

The building is a two-story medieval structure with thick white-plastered stone walls and a steep, red-tiled roof. Its southern facade is covered by the "Stara Trta" (Old Vine), a woody perennial with thick, twisted trunks supported by a black wrought-iron trellis. The interior features exposed wooden ceiling beams, stone flooring, and a modern glass-enclosed wine cellar.

Location & Access Logistics

The house is located at Vojašniška ulica 8, approximately 0.6 kilometers south of Maribor Cathedral. It is positioned within the pedestrianized Lent embankment. Motorized access is restricted to residents, but public parking is available at the nearby Market Square (Tržnica) garage or the garage under City Park. Bus lines 1, 2, and 6 stop at the nearby Glavni trg (Main Square) station.

Historical & Ecological Origin

The house was part of the city’s defensive walls built in the 16th century. The central vine, of the Žametovka (Bleu de Cologne) variety, was planted at the end of the Middle Ages, surviving Turkish invasions and the phylloxera epidemic of the 19th century. DNA testing and carbon dating have confirmed its age to be over 400 years, officially recognized by the Guinness World Records.

Key Highlights & Activities

The museum offers wine tastings of local varieties from the Štajerska region. Visitors can tour the permanent exhibition detailing the history of viticulture in Maribor. An annual ceremonial pruning occurs in February/March, and the symbolic "Old Vine Festival" harvest takes place in late September or early October.

Infrastructure & Amenities

The facility includes a wine shop, tasting room, and a small museum space. Public restrooms are available for patrons inside. The exterior provides benches along the river embankment with varying degrees of shade from riverside trees. 4G and 5G cellular coverage is excellent throughout the waterfront area.

Best Time to Visit

The best time for photography is the "golden hour" before sunset when the sun illuminates the river-facing facade. To see the vine in full foliage and hanging fruit, visit between late June and September. The interior museum is open daily, though hours are reduced on Sundays.

Facts & Legends

The vine produces between 35 and 55 kilograms of grapes annually, which are processed into wine and bottled in small 250ml bottles designed by artist Oskar Kogoj. This wine is not for sale; it is used exclusively by the Municipality of Maribor as a protocol gift for visiting dignitaries, including popes and heads of state.