The town of Ilok is the Croatian town furthest to the East. It is the cultural, administrative and business centre of West Syrmia. It is situated on the west hill-sides in the area which is very convenient for grapewine growing. Specific geographical and climate conditions make the wine-growing area of Syrmia the most important wine-growing region of the continental part of Croatia for the production of supreme quality wines with a recognizable taste, acknowledged and awarded several times both in Croatia as well as throughout Europe. Supreme quality wines from Ilok are irreplaceable in selling assortments of big and small sales. In addition, catering businesses and genuineexperts of supreme quality wines list them always in their wine collections. The wine-growing tradition which has been developed throughout several millenniums makes Ilok an irreplaceable part of the wine-growing tradition in Europe and the sign of supreme quality.

From Illyrians and Romans….

Different cultures and civilizations have followed in succession in the area of Ilok since prehistory, recognizingits climate, strategic and other advantages. The antique writers Strabon and Dionisius Cassius noted down that the Old Illyrians had, even before the Roman conquest, grown grapevine, and after the Romans had come in this area, the Emperor Probus (276 – 282) declared this area as a specially convenient one for the growing of grapevine and wine production. Thus he had the first vineyards of special varieties planted. At the same time,the Romans erected the first fortification Cuccium here which was the forerunner of the present town of Ilok.

At the end of the massive migration, with the decay of the West Roman Empire, these areas were settled by Croatians, who continued the tradition of grapevine growing. Unfortunately, in the temptestuous times of the Middle Ages, these areas were conquered by the Turks. St. John of Capistrano took part in defense of the town of Ilok. He was a Franciscan and a future saint, after whom both the parish church in Ilok and the famous table wine from Ilok are named. After the liberation from the Turks, the Pope Inocent XI gave the management of the area of Ilok to the Italian family Odeschalchi, who introduced the supreme quality vine varieties, and started bottling and selling bottled wine in Ilok and were among the first in Europe as well. The wines from Ilok have also been at the English Court since the 19th century. They were served on the occasion of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, and areexibited today in the royal wine collection.

… until today

The town of Ilok has restored its old glamour after the Serbian agression and seven year occupation and it has also continued its rich wine tradition. The Old Cellar from Ilok, which is unique in its architectural and technological features, still produces and bottles wines of supreme quality, and it is visited by eminent Croatian and world-famed experts on a regular basis, because it is one of the rare cellars of its kind in Europe. Welsh Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Rhone Riesling and Traminer give the peak of their varieties’ features in Ilok and confirm that only the combination of distinguished pedo-climatic conditions, tradition, people and technology result in supreme quality.