Meet Stara Trta: officially the oldest cultivated grape vine in the world! 💚

The Stara Trta - “The Old Vine” in Slovenian - was planted during the time when Maribor was still besieged by the Turks. For more than 400 years, this legendary vine in Maribor has survived wars, fires, floods, phylloxera, and even near destruction, yet it still produces grapes every year.

The Stara Trta - “The Old Vine” in Maribor, Slovenia - the official Guinness record keeper

Curious about the grape variety? It is Žametna Črnina (Black Velvet), a Slovenian dark-skinned grape. From Maribor it spread across the country, and today offshoots of Stara Trta grow in more than 130 sites in Slovenia and 84 sites abroad, from Berlin to Melbourne.

Žametna Črnina is easy to spot in the vineyard: its leaves have a unique shape, and if you notice the little heart-shaped edges, you’re looking at the relatives of Stara Trta. 💚 Love is in the air!

The unique leave of Žametna Črnina - the oldest cultivated grape vine in the world

Traditionally, Žametna Črnina was used as a blending ingredient in the local wine Cviček. But its elegant organoleptic profile, naturally bright acidity (even in hottest vintages), and potential for aging have inspired a new generation of winemakers to rediscover Žametna Črnina for sparkling wine - Penina.

Today the sprouts of the world’s oldest vine continue to grow and delicately contribute to the unique style of local Peninas.💚

Stay tuned for more stories and interviews revealing the secrets of Penina! 💚