This year, Maribor will present itself to the international public as Europe's Best Wine Capital
(Maribor, January 30, 2026) Maribor has once again soared to the top of the international list of the best tourist destinations, this time as the heart of European wine culture. The global tourism platform European Best Destinations (EBD) has declared Maribor the best European wine capital of 2026. Among numerous European wine capitals, Maribor emerged victorious - the city of the oldest noble grapevine in the world, with a unique combination of rich heritage, top-notch gastronomy, and a vibrant cultural pulse. The news about the best wine destinations in Europe was also published by the global media forbes.com.
With the new title, Maribor in 2026 stands alongside the most prestigious wine destinations in Europe; second and third places are held by French Bordeaux and Portuguese Porto. According to the European Best Destinations platform, the Styrian capital stands out due to its exceptional tradition of viticulture and winemaking, the unique global symbol – the oldest noble grapevine in the world, authenticity, and the absence of mass tourism as well as the quality of offerings.
Jure Struc, director of the Maribor Tourist Board: "The title of the best European wine destination is an extraordinary connecting opportunity. With it, we transcend the boundaries of the city and directly connect Maribor's, Styrian, and Slovenian winemakers, restaurateurs, experience organizers, cultural institutions, and tourism providers into a common story. Together with partners such as the best European city of cultural heritage, Ptuj, and one of the best European destinations, Styria, we successfully pursue the ambition of internationally positioning the broader Styrian region and ultimately all of Slovenia on the world map."
With the new title, the Maribor Tourist Board will implement international promotion in 2026, aimed at guests with higher added value and lovers of authentic wine, culinary, and cultural experiences. Already at the 5th Maribor Tourism Forum on February 5, 2026, the destination Porto, which ranked third on the list of the best European wine destinations in 2026.
How was the selection process conducted?
The best European wine destinations in 2026 were selected by the leading European tourism platform European Best Destinations (EBD) based on an evaluation of more than 120 wine-growing destinations. A shortlist of 31 cities was made, which stand out for their historical winemaking tradition, recognition, and development of wine tourism offerings. The final ranking was based on a set of professional criteria, including the quality and reputation of wines, sustainable practices, wine infrastructure and gastronomy, the connection between culture and wine, the accessibility of the destination, and a good value for money.