History

History

The uniqueness of Ilok’s unique soil, climate, and position on the Danube, as well as its advantages for growing vines, were recognized in prehistoric times, in the ancient and Roman periods, and in the golden age of the Middle and Modern Ages.

The story of Nikola Iločka and Stari Podrum, the noble Odescalchi family, the first traminac vine in our area, their stamp of original filling on the property, and serving traminac at the royal court are only the beginning of the whole stories.

Visit us & travel with us through the rich history of our region.

8000 years ago

The area of the town of Ilok is inhabited.

276. – 282.

The Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius Probus encouraged the planting of vines and the production of wine in the area of Srijem

1276.

Ilok is mentioned for the first time as a settlement, under the Hungarian names "Vjlak" or "Wylok".

1450.

Nikola Iločki builds a castle on the site of the former Roman fort Cuccium. Under the castle, he builds a wine cellar, the first architectural and technological facility built for the purpose of wine production and storage.

1456.

Ivan Kapistran with the Hungarian general defends Belgrade from the Ottomans and postpones the conquest of Srijem and Slavonia for 70 years. He dies in the same year, and miraculous healings take place at his grave. At the end of the 17th century, he was declared holy, and our wine is named after him.

1525.

The city of Ilok gets its statute and coat of arms. The author of the coat of arms is the Renaissance miniaturist Julije Klović, and this same coat of arms is also found on our packaging.

1697.

The Italian noble Odescalchi family left a striking mark in the development of grape growing and winemaking in the Ilok area.

Begining of 1700s

The Odescalchis give their name to the best vineyard location in Principovac. Principovac is a derivative of the Latin word princeps, which means first, prince.

1710.

The Odescalchi family from South Tyrol brought the first vine of Traminac to Principovac and Ilok became a synonym for this variety.

1864.

On the vineyard site of Principovac, the Odescalchis built the eponymous summer house and country estate where they stay during the grape harvest and hunting season.

1899.

The royal grape and fruit growing school was founded in Ilok. Even then, the school had its own farm: orchards, orchards, gardens, cellars, beekeeping, cattle breeding and more.

1945.

The property of the Odescalchis is nationalized and they leave Ilok and return to Italy.

1953.

At the celebration of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, excellent Traminac from the 1947 vintage is served.

1970.

A new cellar is being built, today's Iločki podrumi winery, as part of the former integrated farming Vupik Vukovar.

1999.

Iločki podrumi winery is becoming independent for the first time.

2003.

With the completion of the privatization process, Iločki podrumi gets a new majority owner, Juraj Mihaljević, who turns Iločki podrumi into a unique food and wine destination and one of the four largest wineries in Croatia.