You can do the Zmajevac marathon without being an athlete! Your only task here is to drink the best Baranja wines! Yes, we are not joking. Zmajevac Wine Marathon is a race like no other. The winner here is not the one who runs the marathon first but who drinks the most and visits all the wine cellars on the map first. You might think that's easy; all I have to do is drink wine. But what if we told you there are over 20 wine cellars on the map? 22, to be exact! It is a CHALLENGE, even for the biggest wine lovers with the most endurance. Are you up for it?

Let's start with location! Zmajevac.

The annual wine marathon is held each fall in continental Croatia in the picturesque village of Zmajevac. Thanks to its high insolation level, this wine-growing region is known for the best wines. You maybe heard about Josić wines, one of the top winemakers in Croatia. Visiting Zmajevac is an experience in itself. Breathtaking landscapes, vineyards, plenty of music, and good vibes. It is the relaxed, rural escape you never knew you needed. Baranja region and Zmajevac are famous for their wines and two unique phenomenons - Surduk and Gator. Surduk is a narrow, muddy road with ''natural walls'' dotted with tree roots, which stop them from collapsing. The lateral, vertical sides of the Surduk can be several meters high. Some were created as natural watercourses, and human hands made some. Trees often cover the Surduk, so it looks like a tunnel. It can be magical in fall, especially when the leaves start changing their color to a golden brown. Along the Surduk, you will find Gators. Buried in the ground, often walled with brick, gators are unlike typical wine cellars. On the outside cute little old houses and behind the doors, 12 to 15 degrees Celsius wine cellars.

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Not Only Will You Try the Best Wines, but You Will Also Have a One-of-a-Kind Gastronomic Experience

The number of marathon runners/wine tasters is limited to only 2500. By paying the registration fee, which is less than twenty euros, each participant, along with a backpack, t-shirt, wine glass, and a map of the wine cellars, will get vouchers for the consumption of the best Baranja wines in one of the three wine cellars in Zmajevac. The competitor who first visits all the cellars on his map and collects all the stamps is the winner. This year, they had contestants from 17 countries, San Marino, Italy, Poland, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic, and the list goes on.

Since it is not recommended to drink wine on an empty stomach, Wine Marathon Zmajevac offers the best local food specialties. Start with langošica, archetypal Hungarian street food. It is soft and fluffy yeast-based bread, which for us, is the best when pairing it with cheese filling. Or maybe with nettle sauce which Baranja is famous for? Deer sausages are also served here, and tasty beans in a pot. You should also try carp in forks; it is a famous Baranja dish. Super delicious! And did we mention Kulen? This spicy cured sausage is a MUST TRY!

As we said at the beginning, this wine marathon Zmajevac is like no other; it's an amazing one-of-a-kind gastronomic experience perfect for spoiling yourself and your taste buds. It is an ideal opportunity to taste amazing wines, get to know the Baranja traditions and culture, and create memories with your friends that will last forever.

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