The Association of Slovenians "Triglav", in cooperation with the Institute for Genetic Resources, organized the planting of the oldest vine on May 12, 2023 in Banja Luka.
The idea to plant the famous „Blue Kavčina“ or „Žametna črnina“ in the Banja Luka area, which is also known for its vines and good wine, was born through the cooperation and socializing of Slovenians from the Association Triglav Banja Luka and our friends from Maribor. The symbol of this Slovenian city will adorn the Botanical Garden of the Institute for Genetic Resources in Banja Luka, where they also took care of this exceptional vine.
The mixed choir "Davorin Jenko" sang the Slovenian national anthem at the beginning of the ceremony, after which Mladen Lunić, president of the Association "Triglav" addressed the audience. In the introduction, he greeted the ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia in Bosnia and Herzegovina, H.E. Damijan Sedar, consul of the Republic of Slovenia in Banja Luka, Mr. Boris Jelovšek, the mayor of Banja Luka, Mr. Draško Stanivuković, representatives of the city of Maribor, members of the Slovenian Army - members of the EUFOR LOT House Banja Luka, representatives of the University and the Institute for Genetic Resources from Banja Luka, and members of the "Triglav" Association Banja Luka. He thanked everyone for coming to the ceremony on the occasion of the planting of the oldest city vine in the world, which has been growing in Maribor for almost 450 years. He expressed his special gratitude for this exceptional act of professionalism and goodwill to the entire team of the Institute for Genetic Resources, led by Assistant Professor Marina Antić, who, unfortunately, was officially absent.
He invited the ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia in Bosnia and Herzegovina, H.E. Damijan Sedar, to address the audience. The ambassador expressed his satisfaction at being present at such events, which encourage cooperation between Banja Luka and Slovenia, and that he was sure that this vine would grow well considering the rain that was about to water the seedlings.
Then the keeper of the old vineyard in Maribor - the city’s winegrower, Mr. Stanislav Kocutar conveyed the greetings of the mayor of Maribor, Mr. Sašo Arsenović and said that he was extremely happy that the vine from Maribor was spreading all over the world and that this was the 95th place where it has been planted.
After that, the mayor of Banja Luka, Mr. Draško Stanivuković stated that this old vine would undoubtedly be the pride of Banja Luka and that it represented another form and proof of excellent cooperation between Slovenia and Banja Luka, with the great contribution of Banja Luka Slovenians.
At the end, the ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia, the mayor of Banja Luka, the consul of the Republic of Slovenia, the president of the Triglav Association and the city winegrower of Maribor performed the symbolic act of planting, and with a song performed by the "Davorin Jenko" choir, we wished it good growth.
The event was covered by the team of RTV Slovenia from Maribor together with Dušan Tomažič, who also prepared a feature for the show Rojaki, and the article was also published in Večer magazine at the following link:
Mala Evropa: https://lat.rtrs.tv/av/pusti.php?id=114200
Ana Marjanović
