@cgtneurope: Maribor has held the 40th ceremonial harvest of its Guinness-listed Old Vine, a living landmark planted in the second half of the 16th century that has survived fires, war and disease. The vine, a variety called Žametovka, grows against the front of an old house on the banks of the Drava River. It is recognized as the world's oldest grapevine still producing fruit. Former referee Slavko Vincic cut the first cluster, and the grapes were picked by hand. In a typical year the vine yields 35 to 55 kilograms, enough for about 100 quarter-litre bottles used as ceremonial and diplomatic gifts. This year's harvest carried a warning sign. After a summer of extreme heat, the grapes reached the sugar levels of an early October harvest in 1987 by mid-August, according to vine caretaker Stane Kocutar. Still, the plant produced a successful crop, which harvester Teodor Zorko put down to its deep roots near the river. How long the vine will keep growing is impossible to say. "It is a living being, not a museum artefact," Kocutar said, adding that he hopes its end is "far, far in the future." Read more: https://tinyurl.com/39yvx2jy #Slovenia #Maribor #OldVine #WorldsOldestGrapevine #Wine #Harvest #ClimateChange #Europe #GuinnessWorldRecords

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Thursday 01 October 2026 17:18:01 GMT