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In 2021, a new brand for promoting wines of the Kvarner region was formed ― the Kvarner Wines Association. It features a plethora of prominent winemakers of Kvarner, and its primary goal is to promote and preserve wines made from the local grape varieties indigenous to the Kvarner region. To tell us more about the association's mission and projects, we've invited its manager Žarko Stilin for a talk!
The History of Wine and Winemaking in Kvarner
When asked what role wine has in the Kvarner region's culture and history, Stilin asserts that wine and Kvarner are inseparable. There is evidence that the ancient Liburnians produced wine while inhibiting the area. Furthermore, Stilin notes that the ancient Romans continued the tradition of winemaking. According to the legend, Empress Livia Drusilla, the last wife of the Roman Emperor Augustus, owes her long life to the Istrian wine Pucinum ― judging by its description, Livia drank Teran, another grape variety native to coastal Croatia.
An array of historical documents testify to the region's winemaking, and some of the priceless Croatian monuments and relics are closely connected to wine ― the Baška Tablet has ornamental vine tendrils inscribed along its upper edge. The first wine barrel in the world was discovered on the Island of Sv. Marko, the most northern island of the Adriatic. In the 18th century, winemakers of Krk exported around 1,5 million liters of wine yearly! Unfortunately, their success was cut short at the end of the 19th century when the phylloxera pest wreaked havoc on the region's vineyards. Still, more than a century later, the Kvarner winemakers have bounced back in style.
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Who are Kvarner Wines?
Today, 200 hectares of the Kvarner region are covered by vineyards, of which 150 belong to the most coveted native variety, Žlahtina. The vineyards belong to the wineries and winemakers, the association's members; OPG Ružić, OPG Plovanić Wines, Grand Village Estate Winery, Wine House Pavlomir, Katunar Estate Winery, Gospoja Winery, Boškinac Winery, Wine House Ivan Katunar, Šipun Winery, PZ Vrbnik, and restaurant Nada in Vrbnik.
Besides regular wine, sparkling wines are top-rated, and both products have swept the competition! The Kvarner Wines members share many awards, the most recent being from the most famous world wine tasting contest, Decanter 2022. They've collectively won 11 medals. Kapitul of Šipun Dobrinčić winery, sparkling wine San Marino from Pavlomir Wine House, and wine Sansigot made by the Grand Village Estate Winery won silver medals. The bronze medals went to Barrique 225 Cabernet Sauvignon from Pavlomir, sparkling wine Valomet Brut Nature of PZ Vrbnik, Žlahtina Gospoja 2021 by Gospoja Winery, Prošek by Katunar Estate Winery, sparkling wine 1288 Brut from Pavlomir, Vrbnička žlahtina Zlatna, PZ Vrbnik, Amfora 246 OPG by Plovanić Wines and Sveta Nedilja, Gospoja Winery.
Protecting the Indigenous Wine Varieties
At Kvarner Wines, they point out that the core of the association's work lies in its preservation endeavors, which aim to revitalize the native indigenous grape varieties of Kvarner that were almost wiped out by the phylloxera plague and time. Kvarner boasts 36 indigenous grape varieties: Žlahtina, Sansigot, Debejana, and Kamenina, to name a few. The goal of preservation is accomplished by carefully planning and planting the local varieties on new land. The grapevine is the cornerstone of the association, as there wouldn't be Kvarner Wines without it. So the efforts at preserving and taking care of the local plants will always be one of the main incentives that drive the association forward.
Other Projects and Endeavors
The first year of Kvarner Wines flew by quickly. They made themselves known at all of the important oeno-gastronomical events in Croatia, organized educational workshops, joined the EU project Wine roads of Kvarner. The organisation even managed to organize a few wine festivals: WineRi in Rijeka, Bele nedeje in Kastav, Ružica Vinodola in Novi Vinodolski and Wine Days of the Island Krk in Vrbnik. Wine Days in Vrbnik occurs yearly on the last weekend of August. Besides, the wine tastings and workshops are accompanied by various wine-related outdoor activities, such as Vrbnik Wine Walk and Wine & Bike Night.
Stilin adds that there are some projects that he will keep a secret for now, so we have something to look forward to! Finally, he proudly concludes that this first year was just the beginning ― and we confidently add that if we were to judge by the first year, Kvarner Wines is already a force to be reckoned with!
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