This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Wine road
Sample the best from Međimurje
Međimurje is the smallest wine region in the northernmost part of Croatia. It offers the world its playful light young wines and exceptional jewels with the most delicious nectars in premium wines.
Climate, soil, sunshine, wine varieties
The unique scenery of Upper Međimurje features rolling hills at the altitude of 300 m, winding paths, idyllic villages and thousands of vines lovingly tended to. You can meet families with vineyards and cellars, where wonderful scents, refreshing flavours and amazing aromas of white and red varieties are created. Their quality has been recognized internationally with prestigious awards. The wines include sauvignon, green sylvaner, pinot gris, Rhein riesling, yellow muscat and pušipel - the only native wine variety in Međimurje.
Tell me more
The vineyards in Međimurje are the most valuable attraction in its upper region. The easiest way to get there is to follow the road from Čakovec northwards towards Štrigova. The first vineyards begin at the village of Lopatinec, continue towards Selnica and visibly multiply towards Štrigova and the border with Slovenia. The highest point is the village of Banfi, then they descend from there along the border towards Sv. Urban and back to Lopatinec across Stanetinec. In this small area there are about 1,100 hectares of vineyards. The altitude of the wine-bearing hills ranges from 200 to 340 metres. Numerous slopes and steep hillsides allow for plenty of sunshine, constant air flow and lifting of morning mists in spring and autumn. The soil is mostly loam, with marl and sandy parts. The climate is typically continental with cold winters, warm summers and high average humidity. In such conditions, some micro locations can have great achievements, and among the best are the vineyards located in Sveti Urban, Železna gora, Banfi, Prekopa and Dragoslavec.
Show less
Wines from Međimurje
Wines made in Međimurje are lively, with a strong aroma and undoubtedly unique freshness. Međimurje offers the world light, friendly and affordable wines, easy to drink and understand, wines that go perfectly with food. Leading wineries have taken an ambitious step forward by launching more complex wines, sparkling wines with exceptional quality and special achievements with red wines. Winemakers involved in the Pushipel project have a particularly important mission in the promotion of the wine scene in Međimurje. World-class wines have been created, as confirmed by top awards received at the most stringent international evaluations.
Tell me more
Renowned festivals, fairs and gold medals have confirmed that sauvignon, pušipel and sparkling wines made from pušipel have been representing the wine quality in Međimurje for years. Wines from Međimurje have an excellent best price-quality ratio, and being affordable, they are also present on the market nationally. Nevertheless, they are mostly sold locally, in Međimurje.
The most common white varieties in Međimurje are Pušipel (synonyms: shipon, moslavac, furmint, mosler), sauvignon blanc, pinot gray, Rhein riesling, sylvaner, muscat yellow and graševina; and among the red varieties - pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and syrah.
There are about thirty family-run wineries along the accessible wine road with great destination signage, all in a relatively small area full of things to do any time of year. In recent years, about ten leading wineries have received over hundred certificates and medals awarded by the world’s most stringent wine judging panels Decanter and IWC.
Show less
Your Royal Highness…
Pušipel
Pušipel - a true gem amongst wine varieties
Pušipel is a distinctive wine variety of Međimurje and a local brand of extremely high quality. Winemakers place it on the market labelled as Pushipel Classic and Pushipel Prestige in the original Tokaj-type bottle. The Classic is a light white wine with a lively character and subtle fruity citrus aromas with graphite mineral tones. The Prestige is aged longer and is richer with qualitative attributes. Pušipel is a variety with wide elasticity - it offers a winemaker a standard harvest, a late harvest, various selected harvests and an ice harvest, if ideal weather conditions have been met.
The first plots with the leading international red varieties were planted in the most attractive locations in Međimurje in the last years of the 20th century, with pinot noir, merlot, syrah and cabernet sauvignon amongst others.
Urbanovo is the international festival of pušipel wine and the wine scene in Međimurje. Continually growing in the number of visitors, it has become a tradition in the last twenty years. It takes place in mid-May in Štrigova. The rich festival program features expert international wine evaluations, attractive wine tastings, presentations, professional workshops and wine quizzes, open cellar days, glamorous gastro evenings and concerts.
All wineries, members of the prestigious group of winemakers named HORTUS CROATIAE, gladly offer tasting and the purchase of all their wines "at their doorstep". Delivery to your home or other address is also an option. There are wine shops in Čakovec where you can buy wines from leading wineries, as well as Međimurski Štacun shop where you can buy wines from a dozen wineries. Wines from Međimurje are available in almost all wine shops and markets across Croatia.
Cuisine on the Wine Road in Međimurje
Sample and experience culinary specialties on the Wine Road in the following restaurants: Terbotz restaurant, Qulelle restaurant and Potkova pub at Terme Sv. Martin resort, Potrti kotač tavern, Bistro Jastreb, Sv. Martin na Muri tavern, Kavana Orijent, Kavana Monika, Arka, Bukovec family farm, Perhoč hunting lodge, Vukov breg, Marijina hiža, Zlatni breg
Food tasting rooms: Žunek and PG Geler
Events on the Wine Road in Međimurje
The Wine Road is full of life all year round. Check out the traditional events you can visit on your own, or live it up with friends!
January
- St Vincent’s Trail
- St Vincent’s festival in Štrigova and Sv. Martin na Muri
Tell me more
May
- Urbanovo
June
- Art colony Štrigova
- Concerts
July
- Štrigova Nights
- Go to the Vineyards over several weekends in about ten wineries
- Halicanum Festival in Toplice Sv. Martin resort
- Jazz in the Vineyard on Mađerka hill
November
- St Martin’s Feast in Štrigova and Sveti Martin na Muri
- Young Međimurje – Young Wine Festival
December
- Christmas season on Mađerka hill
Show less
Accommodation along the Wine Road in Međimurje
Terme Sveti Martin spa resort is situated in the very heart of the Wine Road. It’s the first healthness resort in Europe offering a wide range of quality activities and amenities. There are also about a hundred high-standard rural villas providing absolute comfort, scattered on the nearby hillsides. A great option is Hažić Wine Camp in Jurovčak.
Cultural and natural attractions
Besides visiting tasting rooms, wineries, woods, farms and restaurants, don’t miss the opportunity to hike up the hill to the Mađerkin Breg viewpoint overlooking Štrigova, listen to the rumbling of the river mill on the Mura in Žabnik, enter the churches of St Jerome, St George, St Urban or St Martin the Bishop.