Last time we dropped you off in Svečina, from where you'd have no trouble returning back to Maribor – but if you've stayed there, we'll take you back to the center of the town today. From Svečina I’d suggest you go on through Zgornja Kungota, with a beautiful church of St. Kunigunda, until you reach Kozjak nad Pesnico, a small village in the valley of Pesnica.
Here you’ll see where to turn in order to get to the House of Wine Doppler – one of the most modern wine cellars I’ve ever been to. On the outside it might remind you more of a seaside resort, but don’t let that fool you, you’re still in the hills of Slovenske gorice. And trust me, the views towards Urban, St. Ana, the Tower of Plač... and further on to the Austrian side in amazing.
From here I suggest you take the more scenic road towards Spodnje Dobrenje and cross the motorway, to reach Jelenče where you join the regional road Maribor – Šentilj v Slovenskih goricah. If you wish to have some recreation I suggest you turn left on the main road towards Štrihovec for a relaxed game of miniature golf (right next to the main road, with a volley ball court and a picnic place as well), or you can phone ahead to the Domoljub society in Kaniža, if you wish to try your skills in paintball.
If not you should turn toward Gačnik, where you can stop at the fruit tree plantations, which – I have to admit – is not open for tourists but for experts in the field of growing fruit. Still, you can continue from here toward the estate of Eder, where you’ll learn about the tradition and habits of the local area.
From here you can hurry back to town if you take the motorway, but I suggest you take the wine road leading you over Dragučova, through Vodole and towards Malečnik.
On the way you’ll see the Family estate Protner, the Protner house Joannes, the Tourist Farm Celcer, Tourist farm Emil, Wine shops Valentan, Mak, the other Mak... and many, many more, until you reach the restaurant Frajgraba right before the Črni baron in Malečnik, where you turn back toward Maribor and cross both the old stream of River Drava and the Drava Chanel to reach Pobrežje – the eastern part of Maribor, from where I’ll point you westwards next time, up the river Drava, for our final destination surrounding Maribor.
