Medimurje as a wine destination

Although I have traveled across Croatia many times and know how much wealth and natural beauty our country abounds in, I must say that I only 'discovered' Međimurje a few years ago. And I was delighted with everything that this small, northernmost Croatian region has to offer.

First of all, the beautiful green landscapes, which is why it is called the Garden of Croatia. We often admire Austrian and Slovenian villages, how beautiful and tidy they are, and perhaps we are not even aware that just an hour and a half drive from Zagreb, we have the same in our own country. Even more beautiful :) More than 700 kilometers of well-maintained bicycle paths, the Mura-Drava Regional Park (the first of its kind in Croatia), the only floating river mill, the Bedekovićeve graba natural monument, which is home to more than 60 species of butterflies, the Sveti Martin thermal baths... all these are reasons that should encourage you to visit Međimurje.

If that is not enough, then the fact that it is here that, in my opinion, the most beautiful vineyard in Croatia is located must definitely make you think again. Mađerkin breg near Štrigova is a place where a 28-meter-high lookout tower has been built, from which you can see as many as 4 different countries. In addition to Croatia, you can also see nearby Slovenia, Austria and Hungary. Some even mention Slovakia, but perhaps after having previously done a wine tour along the nearby wine roads and tasted wine in wineries.

What is truly breathtaking is not the view into the distance, but the vineyard located below the lookout tower itself. When I first saw it in photos, I could not believe that something like this existed in Croatia. The impressive terraces, combined with the winding hills, create an 'out of this world' scene. You have the impression that you could look at it for hours, and you probably could if there was not an open-air bar owned by the Štampar family at the foot of the lookout tower, inviting you to come down for a glass of wine. It is an invitation that is impossible to resist.

In addition to Štampar, Cmrečnjak also has vineyards on Mađerka, whose winery, probably the most beautiful in Međimurje, is located opposite the hill and a few minutes' drive away. And David Štampar and Marko Cmrečnjak are among the leaders of the younger generation of winemakers who have greatly popularized Međimurje wines in the past few years. I would say primarily by significantly modernizing production and making a move away from the semi-dry wines that characterized this area, but certainly also through various projects (bottle and glass for a smoker) and events (Urbanovo) that raise awareness of the top quality of local wines.

Another important thing that helped them on this path is the fact that Međimurje winemakers realized that they had to perform and work together on branding their region. Similar to the Istrians twenty years ago. It's nice, both at fairs and when you come to Međimurje, to see that they all socialize and respect each other. They don't see each other as competitors, but as colleagues and friends, and there's always positive banter.

I haven't visited all the wineries here, and there are still many left for me to explore, but of the ones I've been to, I would definitely single out the new and modern Kocijan family winery, the romantic Dvanajščak-Kozol with excellent wines and also a beautiful view, and the beautiful and, what's especially important today, very 'instagrammable' Hažić wine house. In addition to wine, Tatjana Hažić and her family also make apple products, and they also have a wine camp where you can stay.

Međimurje is a region of white wines, primarily Pušipel as a local variety. It's hard to say whether it's an indigenous Croatian variety, since it's Furmint, which Hungarians also claim, but in any case it's a variety that originates from this area. Now, no one can say for sure whether the first vines were planted north or south of the Mura River. But that's not so important, it is certainly a local variety with high potential for drinkable, fresh wines, and which can also produce wonderful aged wines, the best example of which is Cmrečnjak's Pušipel Mađerka sur lie. Another variety that gives excellent results here is Sauvignon Blanc, which is not surprising given the proximity of Styria, which, along with the Loire Valley in France and Marlborough in New Zealand, is one of the three world regions most famous for this variety.

For red wine lovers, Međimurje may not be the number one choice for a visit, but they will not remain thirsty even if they come. My personal favorite in that category is Dvanajščak-Kozol Pinot Noir.

In world wine circles, Međimurje is best known as the birthplace of Rudolf Steiner, the founder of biodynamics. He was born in Donji Kraljevac, which in 1861 was part of the Austrian Empire. His philosophy (according to which the vineyard is treated as a self-sustaining system in which everything is in balance, instead of chemical preparations, natural fertilizers are used, such as cow horn manure, and work in the vineyard and cellar is coordinated with the lunar phases) has more and more fans all over the world today. However, not yet in his homeland, where, as far as I know, no winery practices this method of production, although some have announced a shift in this direction.

It goes without saying that where there is good wine, there is also fine food. Or vice versa, it doesn't matter. Of course, it is impossible to stay hungry in Međimurje, and the most famous local specialties are meso z tiblice and Međimurska gibanica. Also, the pumpkin oil from this region is among the best in the world. The Mala hiža restaurant in Mačkovec has long since outgrown the boundaries of the local area, because it attracts people from all over Croatia. There is also the Terbotz restaurant owned by the Jakopić winemaking family, which also offers a top-notch gastronomic experience, as do numerous other restaurants in the region.

In conclusion, if you haven't been there yet, I definitely recommend at least a weekend trip, if not a few days longer, to beautiful Međimurje. Whether you are a family, a cyclist, a nature lover, and especially a wine lover, this is a destination that you must include on your bucket list. Of course, as an agency, we also offer a wine tour to Međimurje, so you can travel without fear of drinking too many glasses, which can easily happen in such a relaxing environment ;)