Ilok is the easternmost town in Croatia and it is where the east and the west merge. It rises harmoniously over the Danube and is surrounded by the slopes of Fruška gora and beautiful vineyards. Ilok is the Danubian wine kingdom, and its Gewürztraminer and other wine varieties of this region are conquering both the market and most of the town’s visitors.
Gewürztraminer, Welschriesling, Pinot white, Chardonnay and Riesling have been a part of the offer of many world wine stores, as well as of the English Court, since the 19th century.The attractive old cellars of the Odescalchi Castle and several small wine cellars on the Ilok wine trail offer the possibility for tasting wine and homemade cold meats.
Slavonia has excellent conditions for winegrowing and winemaking. In the past, the wines of Slavonia were often found on the tables of emperors and noblemen and it is this tradition that the present Slavonian vineyards derive from: Srijem, Baranja and Đakovo in the east and Kutjevo in the west of Slavonia.
Slavonia has truly excellent capacities for production of large amounts of premium wine, especially white wine. It is hard to say which Slavonian vineyards are better and more tempting: those in Srijem and Baranja in the Danube region, those in Đakovo in East Slavonia or those in Kutjevo in Central Slavonia.
The center of development of Slavonian winemaking is the area around Kutjevo. Enjingi, Krauthaker and PPK Kutjevo are the most important Slavonian winemakers. Eninjgi, and especially Krauthaker, keep experimenting with new varieties, which definitely erases Slavonia’s Graševina monoculture image as it was six or seven years ago.
In recent years the famous wine producers of Slavonia have won world acclaim, which has resulted in an increased number of visits by gastronomes. Organized groups arriving for wine tasting are also offered a corresponding culinary array. This growing interest has prompted the wine makers of Slavonia to launch their own catering establishments.