Dubrovnik has long been positioned as a destination that you have to visit and experience. For the sixth consecutive year, the springtime in Dubrovnik brings us the Dubrovnik FestiWine, which brings together winemakers, wine fans, experts and professionals and offers them a chance to taste excellent wines, meet up with hardworking winemakers, and take part in exciting workshops – because “It is time for wine!”
In the beautiful surroundings of the famous Sunset Beach located on Lapad, the main wine exhibition of the 6th Dubrovnik FestiWine Festival was held. The attendees were welcomed by Dubrovnik-Neretva county prefect Nikola Dobroslavić; member of parliament Sanja Putica, an envoy of the speaker of the Croatian Parliament; state secretary for tourism Frano Matušić; and Dubrovnik deputy mayor Jelka Tepšić.
“It is a great honour and pleasure for Dubrovnik that the 6th Dubrovnik FestiWine is held in the town which is the champion of tourism. We believe that Dubrovnik deserves the best, and that is exactly what can be found in Dubrovnik-Neretva County: the best wines that promote not only the town and the county, but also the whole of Croatia,” said deputy mayor Tepšić.
“Tourism Ministry wants to promote the production of indigenous wines as much as possible so that they can find their way to the tables of our restaurants as soon as possible,” said Matušić.
Dubrovnik-Neretva County, as the organiser of the event, says that the central message of the festival is the promotion of further development of the winegrowing and winemaking in the Dubrovnik area. In line with this, county prefect Nikola Dobroslavić officially opened the festival.
“It is my honour to open the 6th Dubrovnik FestiWine. Congratulations to the organiser, Dubrovnik PartneR, which helps us produce all the events we do as a county. We have fantastic white and red wines, and we follow the approach that our wines must represent the backbone of wine lists, that they must be prominently placed on them, and that holidays cannot be complete unless the guests taste the local wines. From their trips, they should bring memories of wines and also the best souvenirs – local wines!” Dobroslavić said.
The opening ceremony also included the presentation of the best wines from the Dubrovnik FestiWiNe Trophy 2019 international competition. The international jury has done a great job by testing and rating 110 wine samples. It was led by president Bojan Kobal, who headed the evaluation process throughout all six years.
The best wine is TRAMINAC LEDENO VINO 2012., Šimanović family farm, Kostel Pribički from Krašić; the best red wine is DINGAČ SELEKCIJA 2012., PZ Dingač, Potomje, Pelješac; the best rose wine is ROZE 2018., Siber Dušica family farm, Osijek, Erdut wine area; the best white wine is CHARDONNAY 2017., Vina Kalazić, Zmajevac; Baranja wine area; the best sweet wine is TRAMINAC LEDENO VINO 2012., Šimanović family farm, Kostel Pribički, Krašić wine area; the best sparkling wine is ETNA SPUMANTE BRUT 2013., Nerello Mascalese; Societa Agricolla Destro Sel, Italy; the best red wine in Dubrovnik-Neretva County is DINGAČ SELEKCIJA 2012.; PZ Dingač, Potomje; Pelješac; the best rose wine in the county is ROSE 2018., Zlatko Bačić family farm, Blato, Korčula wine area; the best white wine in the county is GRK 2018., Zoran Cebalo Popić family farm, Lumbarda, Korčula wine area; the best Pelješac area wine is DINGAČ SELEKCIJA 2012., PZ Dingač, Potomje; the best Konavle area wine is MALVASIJA DUBROVAČKA 2018., Božo Metković, Molunat; the best Korčula area wine is GRK 2018., Zoran Cebalo Popić family farm, Lumbarda; the best Komarna area wine is PLAVAC MALI 2015., Vinogradi Volarević, Metković; the best Dingač is DINGAČ SELEKCIJA 2012., PZ Dingač, Potomje.
The popular Blind Date was held again this year, pairing the wines of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County with well-known autochthonous Mali Ston oysters. The jury selected the winner for 2019: the wine which paired best with the Mali Ston oysters was QUATTRO Chardonnay 2018 by the Volarević winery from Komarna.
At the traditional charity gala dinner at the Palace Hotel, winning wines from last year’s competition were served with top-quality dishes prepared by chefs: host Saša Računica and guest chef Jure Tomič from the Debeluh restaurant in Slovenia. The proceeds from the gala dinner will fund young culinary talents and sommeliers. The expert jury selected two scholarships to be presented: to cook Toni Kužnin and sommelier Nikša Karaman, who will learn, work and acquire new skills together with mentor Jura Tomič in Brežice from 20 November to 20 December.
With a particular focus on education, the event emphasised the importance of this year’s first FestiWine wine school in Dubrovnik, held under the creative mentorship of the wine academician Mira Šemić, and festival workshops, which first day focused on original varieties (Dubrovnik Malvasia, Pošip and Grk), and the second day on friends of the festival (sparkling wines from the Sparkling Wines Salon in Zagreb, Jo Ahearne’s MW wines from Hvar, and Slavonian dessert wines with sweet snacks).
All photos by Julio Frangen
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