Recognition given to Belje, Krauthaker and Iločki Podrumi.
(Photos by Helena Pletković)
Esplanade Hotel is Zagreb hosted the awards ceremony for the best Croatian wineries from tourism viewpoint on November 28, 2015 – the White Cluster 2015 Awards. In addition, a number of special awards were given to individuals for their contribution to the development and promotion of wine-and-food tourism and the culture of wine in Croatia. The awards ceremony took place during the 10th Zagreb VINOcom, a wine and culinary festival also held at Esplanade Hotel. White Cluster Awards are given to best wineries from tourism viewpoint and have been established in 2012 by GET Association.
The awards for best wineries in Croatia were given to Kozlović (Momjan), Bolfan Vinski Vrh (Hraščina), Bibich (Plastovo), Belje (Kneževi Vinogradi) and Trapan (Šišan). Regional awards for Slavonia were given to Belje from Kneževi Vinogradi, Krauthaker from Kutjevo and Iločki Podrumi. The winners from the Croatian Hills region were Bolfan Vinski Vrh (Hraščina), Vuglec Breg (Škarićevo) and Šember (Donji Pavlovčani). Among Dalmatian wineries, the best were Bibich (Plastovo), Korta Katarina (Orebić) and Saint Hills (Zagruda), while in Istria and Kvarner regions the awards went to Kozlović (Momjan), Trapani (Šišan) and Matošević (Krunčići).
Special recognition “A Good Start” for 2015 went to Medea Winery (Agroprodukt) from Pula, and its goal is to promote wineries which have only recently introduced tourist programs or are at least planning to do that since they have realized the importance of such initiatives. “We believe it is important to show them that their work has been noticed and thus give them an incentive to continue”, Silvija Munda from GET Association said.
Boris Ivančić received a special award for outstanding contribution to the development of the culture of wine; over more than 20 years, he has introduced numerous wines to a wider audience. Karin Mimica received a special award for outstanding contribution to the promotion of wine-and-food tourism for her work at the Gastronaut Club which is of great importance for Croatia’s wine and food scene. A special lifetime achievement award was given to Vitomir Andrić, for outstanding contribution in the promotion of the culture of wine as one of the doyens of Croatian wine journalism.
This year’s best wineries were chosen by 503 wine and food connoisseurs and adventurers, and the results were given separately for four regions: Dalmatia, Istria and Kvarner, Croatian Hills, and Slavonia and the Danube.
“Selling on their own doorstep is becoming a priority for winemakers, while wine cellars have become an integral and important part of tourism. Therefore, the mission of this project is to point out those who are giving their best, to praise their work and successes, and to give them an incentive to continue, and to everyone else to give impetus for further development”, Munda said and pointed out that this does not apply only to wineries but to all those whose activities in any way affect the development and promotion of wine and food tourism and culture.
The main objectives of this important project are presentation and improvement of services within the wine-and-food tourism, and its start has been more than successful.
Winery from Orahovica at the 10th VINOcom
This year’s 10th VINOcom 2015 also took place at the Hotel Esplanade in Zagreb. In the last ten years, it has developed into a well-known and important event for the wine and food community, with more than 300 exhibitors and over 10,000 visitors. The event was attended by representatives of the PP Orahovica, a Slavonian winery which produces excellent wines, and the delegation was composed of Josip Tokić, head of Viticulture and Pomology Department, enologist Ivana Nemet and consultant Igor Hruškar, who are all already very well known in the Croatian wine community.
The best in Croatia:
1) Kozlović, Momjan
2) Bolfan Vinski Vrh, Hraščina
3) Bibich, Plastovo
4) Belje, Kneževi Vinogradi
5) Trapan, Šišan
