The development of the wine industry and wine tourism in the Drávaszög Region from the second half of the 20th century to the present day

Abstract

The study examines the history of viniculture in the Drávaszög region, situated in present-day Croatia, and its effects on tourism. In the northeastern part of Drávaszög lies the Báni-hegy, a loess hill region where vine cultivation has been practiced since antiquity. As part of Hungary, the region was one of the most renowned wine-producing areas in the former Baranya County, and the wines produced there rivalled those from other regions in terms of quality and price. Thanks to the lively trade, winemaking was a profitable activity for a long time. After the annexation in 1920, trade declined due to customs barriers. The wine region became famous again in the second half of the 20th century, when small family wineries began to develop alongside the large-scale Belje winery. Concurrently, wine tourism also flourished. Following the South Slavic war, family wineries lost a significant part of their clientele, but over the last two decades, considerable efforts have been made to boost village tourism and wine tourism. As a result, the wine region has become known throughout Croatia, and demand for wine continues to grow. Wine-based rural tourism is now a major contributor to the development of this economically underdeveloped region.