Štajerska Named Best Wine Region in Europe 2027

The award was officially presented in Maribor by Maximilien Lejeune, Director of European Best Destinations. The recognition also received international media attention today, with Forbes placing Štajerska at the top of its list of Europe’s best wine regions for 2027, based on the European Best Destinations selection.

The Best Wine Region in Europe 2027 title continues a period of strong international recognition for Štajerska. Destination received 101,907 votes and ranked third among Europe’s best destinations in the European Best Destinations 2026 selection, while Maribor was named European Best Wine Capital 2026 and Ptuj received the Best Cultural Heritage Town 2026 award. Štajerska’s latest recognition at the top of Europe’s wine regions further strengthens the international profile of the region as a whole and underlines the power of bringing its diverse stories together.

Maximilien Lejeune, Director of European Best Destinations: “Štajerska represents exactly what today’s travellers in Europe are increasingly looking for: authenticity, exceptional landscapes, centuries of wine culture, outstanding expertise and, above all, a very strong regional identity. From the World’s Oldest Vine in Maribor to the historic wine cellars of Ptuj, from wine roads and vineyards to the people who keep these traditions alive, wine here is much more than a product. It has helped shape the entire region – its culture, gastronomy and the way it welcomes visitors. That is precisely what this recognition is about. The title Best Wine Region in Europe does not tell Štajerska what it should become. It recognises what Štajerska already is and places it in the international spotlight where it belongs. Maribor, Ptuj and the wider Štajerska region are not simply places to visit while travelling through Slovenia – together, they form a European wine destination in their own right.”