OPG Mađar represents a combination of tradition, history and modern organic farming. This family, which bears one of the oldest Croatian surnames, is known for its excellent blackberry and brandy products. Joking about their noble origin, they say that their ancestors fought against the Turks, but they did not get land, but only nobility and a coat of arms, which they now proudly wear on their products.
Despite the initial challenges, the owner of this family farm decided to turn to agriculture 20 years ago, even though he did not own an inch of land. Today, the family is the proud owner of 47 plots, or four hectares of land, where they grow ancient varieties of forest berries in organic farming. They started with blackberry wine, and today, everything they produce sells out, which they are extremely satisfied with.
The blackberry, which occupies half a hectare of their land, is ideal for ecological cultivation because it does not require special care but requires manual labor. Plants need to be weeded and pruned thrice a year, and harvesting starts earlier and earlier due to climate change. The harvest was so good that the Mađar family started selling fresh blackberries and the already recognisable blackberry wine.
When it comes to wine, OPG Mađar sticks to traditional fermentation methods.
Blackberry wine does not contain additives but goes through a second malolactic fermentation that harmonizes the acids. After that, the wine is aged for a year before bottling, retaining the rich ruby colour and characteristic sediment, which has become the trademark of this family farm in Očura, a small place near Lepoglava surrounded by the dense forests of Ivanščica.
Along with wine, music also plays an important role—the wine matures with the sounds of Azra, Josipa Lisac, Mišo Kovač, and other local musicians. Although the visitors tried to "negotiate" the musical repertoire, the Mađar family remains faithful to its style, convinced that this music contributes to the quality of its products. Although we didn't listen to music, we enjoyed a good drink, and the hosts didn't let us go before we tried almost the entire range of products.
In addition to blackberry wine, OPG Mađar produces a wide range of brandy and liqueurs for 14 years. They started with fruit brandies, such as William's, and brandy made from native pear tepka, which became a real hit. There are also liqueurs made from dogwood and brandy made from vineyard peaches, quinces, and apples, which are used as a base for their gin. Orehovac is especially popular - a bitter walnut liqueur without added sugar, enriched with medicinal herbs. All brandies are roasted twice, in the traditional way, on wood, contributing to the authenticity of the taste.
The family is proud of the fact that all fruit varieties are autochthonous and date back to the time of Maria Theresa when they spread to these areas. Pear tepka and President plum, which once adorned the orchards of Austria-Hungary, are now the basis of OPG Mađar products. In addition to brandy and wine, OPG Mađar is planting a new hectare of vineyard, where it will grow the well-known Direktor grape variety, also known as Noja. In high demand in Slovenia, this wine is used to produce Cviček, Slovenia's national pride. Director is grown organically, and OPG Mađar provides natural yeast for each variety of wine.
All OPG Mađar products are sold directly at the doorstep, where customers can enjoy their authentic and ecological offer. The family participates in only five fairs a year, exhibiting the remaining part of their products. OPG Mađar is not only a place of production - it is a place where love for the country, family, and tradition is combined with a modern ecological approach, creating products that bear the flavour of history and quality. If you are looking for an authentic experience of domestic production, this OPG is the right place for you.
OPG Mađar
Trg kralja Tomislava 7, Lepoglava
+385 91 5 768 203
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