Žametovka

Formerly it was popular in Styrian vineyards, and even more so, even today, known in Dolenjska in southeast Slovenia - from the reddish wine cviček.

Paintings of the house kept at the Štajerska Provincial Museum in Graz show the vine growing at least as early as 1657.

[7] Pope Benedict XVI, Emperor Akihito of Japan and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger have also received bottles of Žametovka wine produced from the Maribor vine.

[4][7] Harvesting of the vine and crushing of the grapes takes place in October as part of a 10-day Bacchanalia festival in Maribor.

[2][6] Žametovka is a late variety (ripens in middle of October), moderate vigor, requires a better vineyard location.

Žametovka grapes growing in a vineyard.
The more-than-400-year-old Žametovka vine growing outside the Old Vine House in Maribor, Slovenia. To the right of the vine is a daughter vine taken from a cutting of the old vine.