Oldest Vine in the World

In Maribor, Slovenia, stands what the Guinness Book of Records recognizes as the oldest vine in the world. This vine has been growing for approximately 450 years. Every year, both its pruning and grape harvest are celebrated with great ceremony and festivity.

Cuttings from the vine are distributed to wine-producing countries worldwide after pruning. Each year, the vine produces 35 to 55 kilograms of grapes, which are used to make wine. The mayor of Maribor distributes this wine in small bottles as a diplomatic gift. These bottles have been gifted to notable figures such as Pope John Paul II, U.S. President Bill Clinton, and Emperor Akihito of Japan.

Today, descendants of this ancient vine grow in various wine-producing regions worldwide, including Paris, the Vatican Gardens, Australia, Japan, Israel, and many others.

At the Wine Center in Maribor, visitors can learn about the wine culture of the region, with the historic vine as its focal point. A list of all countries that have received a cutting is displayed, but Belgium was missing from the list, despite its growing wine industry.

Belgium Receives a Cutting from the World’s Oldest Vine

The Commanderij Hageland, which annually awards the prize for the best Hageland wine, initiated contact in Maribor to secure a cutting for Belgium. Their goal was to plant it in Wezemaal, a renowned wine village that also hosts the Hageland Wine Visitor Center.

In spring 2013, Belgium received official confirmation that Rotselaar would receive a cutting from the prestigious vine—an honor for the municipality. On May 3, 2013, the vine was ceremoniously planted in the rectory garden of Wezemaal, a historic site that had been beautifully restored.

Our organization took on the responsibility of maintaining this special vine. With great care, we nurtured it, and by 2018, it produced enough grape clusters to make its first wine.

The First Bottling of the Hageland Vine

In the spring of 2019, we bottled the wine in 50 exclusive, numbered bottles, each featuring a beautifully designed label. These bottles were distributed to individuals who played a key role in the success story of bringing the world’s oldest vine to Belgium.

This vine and its wine are unique to Belgium, serving as an additional incentive and asset for wine production in Hageland and, in particular, in Wezemaal.

In the coming years, we aim to involve the local community in the harvest. If there is a sufficient quantity, we will also invite the public to participate in wine tastings. Tastings will always take place in our atmospheric, vaulted wine cellar beneath the Hageland Wine Visitor Center.

Visit Our Wine Cellar for a Tasting

Would you like to visit our wine cellar with a group for a guided tasting of five local wines, accompanied by an expert explanation? Please book in advance:

📞 RESERVATIONS:

💰 Price per person:

resentation of the First Wine from Our Vine Cutting

Our friends from Maribor, Slovenia, were pleasantly surprised when they received two bottles of our first harvest.

They were even more amazed to discover that we had produced a white wine from the grapes.

This special presentation was an initiative of our organization. Friends of our chairman, who planned a holiday in the region in August, took the opportunity to personally deliver two exclusive VIP bottles to the local association responsible for maintaining the historic vine in Maribor.

A heartfelt thank you to Conny and Christian for delivering this special gift! (Click here for photos.)