Slavonia and Croatian Danube

Viticulture in this area was neglected during the Turkish occupation (1527-1687). After the expulsion of the Turks, the Viennese court donated large estates to the feudal lords (Vukovar to Count Elz, Ilok to Odescalchi, large areas in Baranja to the military leader Eugene of Savoy, Daruvar to Jankovići etc.), and the Đakovo diocese who organized viticultural and wine production on these estates. At the end of the 19th century, phylloxera destroyed vineyards, but also enabled the arrival of new varieties of mostly German origin, such as Welschriesling, Silvano green or Rhine Riesling, and the disappearance of former indigenous varieties.

After the Second World War, large vineyards were established (such as PIK Belje-Kneževi vinogradi in the vineyards of Baranja, IPK Osijek-Erdut, PIK Vukovar-Ilok and LŠG “Jelen”, OOUR “Ilok” in the vineyards of Srijem, PPK Kutjevo, PK Orahovica, PIK Đakovo, etc.) and the construction of modern wine cellars (Vukovar, Kutjevo, Erdut), ie the modernization of the old (in the period from 1960 to 1990)  made significant progress in this branch of the economy, and to German varieties are joined  French varieties mostly from the Pinot family.

With the aggression on the Republic of Croatia (1991-1995), great damage was done to viticulture and winemaking in Baranja and the Danube region, and after the peaceful reintegration, the development of this important branch of the economy began again and today there are more and more family wineries that connect winemaking and tourism. 

Ice harvests regularly thrive, and together with the dried berry harvests they won the highest medals at the world’s most famous competitions such as the Decanter World Wine Awards or Mundus Vini.