We were not expecting the oldest vine in the world to be growing on the side of a building, where anyone could touch it! Was interesting to have a look around the small museum and watch the videos, before having a wine tasting of three wines (range from €8.50pp to €17.50pp depending on the type of wine). We tried an orange wine, which I had not heard of before which was very nice. There's also a shop where you can buy various wines.

In the old city centre of Maribor,also called Lent, in front of the Old Vine House, grows over 450-year-old Žametovka or Modra kavčina vine variety. It is included in the Guinness Book of records as the oldest vine in the world, which still bears fruit annually. The Old Vine was planted by the end of the Middle Ages, when Maribor was sieged by the Turks. It survived despite the wrathful battles that raged around it, since it was once part of the city walls. Even the fires in the late Middle Ages could not destroy it, not even the vine louse, which caused most of the vineyards in Europe to wither, nor the ally bombing of the city. Today the Old Vine is the only plant with its own space in the Old Vine House.

We had a tour of the place and then a wine tasting. Both were excellent. Really knowledgeable and friendly staff. The history of wine in the region of Maribor is very interesting and the Old Vine House is definitely worth a visit

Quite something to be a wine store, cave, and museum with the oldest Noble grapevine, that still produces fruits in the world, right in front of your establishment. Great advertisement. The vine is protected by ironwork fencing and nice red poppies grace its base. It is obviously very well taken care of. Listed in the Guinness Records Book so it’s official. Trimmed neatly and expertly to follow along the lower edge of the second floor windows of the building, following its contour perfectly. The building looks quite naked during the winter when the vine has no leaves and has been trimmed way back. Imagine just how many skirmishes, fires, storms, markets, festivals, musicians, people passing by it has survived or witnessed!!! Since 1963, when the dam was built on the Drava river, serious problems arose for the Old Vine. As the level of the river began to rise to more than three meters, the long-standing balance of the root system became upset and the vine started to die slowly. Unprofessional care only exacerbated its condition. Fortunately, the old beauty was noticed by a group of experts from the Institute of Agriculture. These experts, led by Mag. Tone Zafošnik, concentrated all their powers in the revitalization of the vine. Thus by removing the dead parts and making a short cut, they restored its life. The Old Vine had survived again, though this time its end had come perilously close. Today, the vine even has its own vintner who takes care of it. The yearly harvest of around (75-120 pounds (35-55 kg) of grapes is made into wine and poured into 8.5 oz bottles designed by a famous artist Oskar Kogoj. The bottles are a valuable protocol gift – only a hundred are filled every year! It is customary to sing while drinking wine. Songs of love, pain, happiness and truth. Which is why the Old Vine also has its own anthem, and, as they say, you are not a true citizen of Maribor unless you know the Old Vine Anthem (for which I couldn't find a translation in English so I don't know what it says)...

Old Vine House is a little.museum and a centre of interpretation of the oldest vine in the world (about 400 years old) and it is located in the old town of Maribor, the second city in Slovenia. In the entrance of this building, you can see the oldest vine and inside you can visit a little exposition about vineyards in the region and obviously about this oldest vine. Also, you can taste some wines of Slovenia, from different origins. A very nice place for wine-lovers. In fact, we came here to drink our last glass of wine in the country!