There are wine associations that organize events – and there are associations that build a system. Kvarner Wines, in its fifth year of operation, clearly belongs to the latter category. The anniversary celebrated at the Rijeka wine shop Wine&Co, called Kvarner Wines Day, was not just another birthday toast, but a precisely staged announcement of the most ambitious year in the association's history.
Around a hundred people who mean something to Croatian gastronomy gathered in the center of Rijeka: winemakers, chefs, sommeliers, restaurateurs, distributors, institutional partners and key opinion makers. This concentration of expertise and influence speaks louder than any statistics – Kvarner Wines today functions as an indispensable operational and communication center for Kvarner wine and gastronomy.
The symbolism of the moment was not accidental. Kvarner is the first and so far the only Croatian European region of gastronomy, and it is precisely through the projects of Kvarner Wines that title is transformed from a protocol to a content category. This is not just about wine promotion, but about the long-term articulation of the region's identity through gastronomy, autochthonous varieties and professional management.
The program was hosted by Frano Ridjan, one of the few television personalities who understands both the context and the audience, recalling a fact that is often overlooked: in 2025, Kvarner Wines participated in more than 60 events, not only in Croatia, but also in key broadcast markets - from Italy and Austria to Slovenia, Hungary and Serbia. This is not the result of enthusiasm, but of organization.
Interestingly, the event avoided classic speeches. Instead, the Vice Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia and Minister of Agriculture David Vlajčić, the Prefect of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County Ivica Lukanović, the Mayor of the City of Rijeka Iva Rinčić, the Director of the Kvarner Tourist Board Irena Peršić Živadinov, the President of the Kvarner International Wine Trophy Ivana Puhelek, the ambassadors of the Kvarner – European Region of Gastronomy project Ines Matić Matešković, Lucija Matijević and Monika Neral, who symbolically opened a magnum of Žlahtina sparkling wine, as well as the President of the Association for 2026 Egle Katunar and the Director of Kvarner Wines Žarko Stilin, addressed the audience via video link. The format was modern, functional and – which is rare – disciplined.
The association model implemented by Kvarner Wines through the Kvarner Wine Cooperative can already be seen as a case study of successful wine marketing in Croatia. Systematic linking of winegrowers and winemakers with the HoReCa sector and distributors, along with a clear market strategy, has proven to be far more effective than individual approaches. The quality of wines from indigenous varieties, confirmed by international awards, now also gains a clear narrative: belonging, local pride and conscious consumerism.
It is precisely this level of professionalism, with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, HAPIH, APPRR, Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, the Croatian Tourist Board, the Kvarner Tourist Board and a number of local institutions, that has positioned Kvarner Wines as one of the most visible actors on the Croatian wine and gastronomy scene - not only in terms of presence, but also in terms of content.
In cooperation with the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, the PGŽ Viticulture and Winemaking Development Program was also developed, a strategic document that clearly defines three key goals: wine branding, improving quality, and increasing vineyard areas. Operationally, the program relies on education, marketing, digitalization, and smart agriculture, with a special emphasis on indigenous varieties.
Today, Kvarner Wines brings together the most important wineries in the region – from Vrbnik and Vinodol to Krk and Kastav – and is behind projects that have already become a standard: WineRi, one of the few wine fairs in Croatia that has a clear market function; Kvarner International Wine Trophy, a competition that insists on certified judges; membership in the Iter Vitis route and the development of the Kvarner Wines Route platform, which connects wine with gastronomy, tourism and cultural identity.
In 2026, the focus is further intensified. WineRi returns to Exportdrvo on March 13-14, the Kvarner International Wine Trophy will be held in Vrbnik at the end of March, and the Kvarner Wines Route will be registered as a Council of Europe cultural route. In addition, more than 70 activities are planned in Croatia and abroad, in cooperation with key partners.
Five years after its founding, Kvarner Wines shows that wine can be more than a product – it can be a tool for regional development, a serious cultural policy and a market-relevant project. In the Croatian context, this is still not the rule. That is why Kvarner Wines is worth paying attention to.
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For all additional questions and clarifications, feel free to contact us at vina.kvarnera@gmail.com or +385/91/7639776.
Kvarner Wines Association
