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The Architecture of Winemaking: 18th-Century Wine Cellars on Manorial Estates in The Croatian Danube Region

Vallis aurea, Mons aureus or Mother of Wine are some of the historical names used for the wine- growing areas in the eastern Croatian regions of Slavonia, Baranja and Syrmia. Today, some of the largest wineries in this area boast their wine heritage dating back to the first half of the 18th century when the wine growing and production first began on manorial estates. Aristocracy from different parts of Europe (prince Eugene of Savoy, the Odescalchi, the Eltz, etc.) were rewarded with the Slavonian estates for war merits after centuries-long Austro-Turkish wars and the annexation of Slavonia to the Habsburg Monarchy. The estates comprised of manor houses or castles with various utility buildings including those for winemaking. Although the vaulted basements of the castles were often used for this purpose, wine cellars were also constructed as detached buildings, the history of which is very little known in Croatia. The aim of this paper is to explore the contribution of the nobility in the development of winemaking, to map the wine cellars of the Slavonian feudal estates in the 18th century (today’s wine subregion of Croatian Danube), as well as to determine their architectural characteristics.

Croatian Danube Region, heritage buildings, wine cellars, manorial estates, 18th century.

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