This paper, based on unpublished archival sources, relevant literature, the press of the time and interviews, provides a comprehensive overview of the development of viticulture in Ilok in the second half of the twentieth century. The chosen period is specific due to the introduction of the new social and agrarian system of socialist Yugoslavia, in which viticulture received its new development framework. In addition to a systematic presentation of the development of viticulture in the selected period, the author touches on other characteristics of viticulture in Ilok at the time, such as: assortment, product placement, mechanization, viticultural protection, labor force and impact on social and cultural life. Special attention was paid to the construction of quality viticultural staff and the role of the Ilok Agricultural School, which required an analysis of the literature on its activities and finally a comparison of data with the collected testimonies of former students of the school. The last part of the paper is dedicated to the condition of Ilok vineyards during the Homeland War and their revitalization in the first few post-war years.