Kvarner Wines Association
The Kvarner Wines Association was founded in 2021 as an informal association of three entities: the Winemakers’ Cooperative, the Kvarner Wine Producers’ Organization, the Žlahtina Wine Growers and Wine Producers ‘ Association, and the Association for the Protection, Preservation and Promotion of Indigenous Products and Original Customs, the Kvarner Quality . The association has a president with a one-year mandate and a professional director, and was founded with the aim of promoting wines from indigenous Kvarner grape varieties, the most famous and eno-gastronomically and consumer-friendly of which are: Žlahtina, Belica (a blend of indigenous white varieties Verdić, Mejsko Belo, Divjaka, Jarbola, Brajkovac), Jarbola, Trojišćina and Sansigot. In addition to promotion, the association is engaged in education about table culture, i.e. the organoleptic properties of wine, by organizing workshops, presentations, lectures and scientific conferences. Other producers of Kvarner food and agricultural products, primarily protected ones such as olive oil from Krk and Cres, Krk prosciutto, Krk and Grobnik cheese, Bakar baškot, brandies and liqueurs, but also producers of cured meat products and desserts, have joined the Association in order to present Kvarner as a whole as the eno-gastronomic nucleus of the Mediterranean lifestyle.
The association participates in all significant eno-gastronomic events in Croatia and neighboring countries, and is the organizer of the International eno-gastronomic festival WineRi in Rijeka and co-organizer of Bela nedeja Kastav, Vrbnik Wine Days and Ružica Vinodol Novi Vinodolski.
In addition to the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, the biggest supporters of the work of the Kvarner Wines Association are: the Kvarner Tourist Board, which has been following the work of the association since its establishment and supports all activities, and the Croatian Tourist Board, the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, namely Kašetica Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, and the Chamber of Crafts of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County.
The Kvarner Wines brand mark is a quality mark created by the Kvarner Tourist Board and awarded to members of the Association in March 2021. The Kvarner Wines brand mark is located on the premises of wineries and tasting rooms that are members of the Kvarner Wines Association, indicating to visitors that they are in a place where they can taste the indigenous wines of Kvarner recommended by the Kvarner Tourist Board.
Today, Kvarner is an interesting and successful wine destination, the third Croatian wine region in terms of sparkling wine production, made from Kvarner varieties. By following the “Kvarner Wines” labels, guests can also create a wine tour according to their wishes.
