Urbanovo – Wine days in the County of the Zrinski is a two-week long event, presenting wines and the culture of good eating and drinking in the northern-Croatian Međimurje County. Usually the event takes place in May (we’re not calling it simply a “festival” because it includes so many various events, including one specific festival) and is spread throughout the Međimurje County, and in 2016 it was held for the 16th time, organized by the Hortus Croatiae, association of Međimurje winemakers. The festival we mentioned that opens the event is the “Pušipel festival”, and in addition to presenting the indigenous Međimurje variety and almost of all its producers (in 2016 it was almost 30 participants!), it sports the presentations of various produces of cellar equipment. The festival takes place in Štrigova, and includes presentations, wine workshops and gastro show, as well as other ways to improve the wine culture in the region. Of course, the selection of the best pušipel is performed each year, as well as the choice of the best “other” wines.
The next important feature of Urbanovo are the days of the open doors on the Međimurje wine road. For those two days all of the establishments on the wine road in Međimurje have special programme, welcome any guests with food, music, showcasing their cellars to anyone interested. Those are probably the happiest two days in Međimurje, and each year those participating are doing their best to “beat” their neighbours at what it is they’re offering to those that want to enjoy the open days.
The last day of the Urbanovo event is market with the Wine Ball, taking place in the Trebotz restaurant and castle. It’s a bit more glamorous event, almost can be said that it’s a black-tie event, a four-course dinner eaten at a wonderful atmosphere of a restaurant in a castle. The meal is accompanied by the best Međimurje wines (it’s a matter of prestige to have your wine offered at the Ball for winemakers in the region), and a bit of a ceremony: during the Ball the first bottle of the last-year’s pušipel vintage is opened and offered to the guests.
