Top-quality Croatian and international sparkling wines, Kvarner's indigenous varieties, shrimp, oysters and a great atmosphere have turned Crikvenica into the new summer sparkling stage of Kvarner.
International Sparkling Wine Festival Crikvenica #JustSparkle, held on July 10th and 11th at Stjepan Radić Square, has already shown with its premiere edition that Crikvenica has the potential to develop a recognizable premium wine and gastronomy event on the Croatian coast.
The festival was organized by The Tourist Board of the City of Crikvenica and the City of Crikvenica in cooperation with the Kvarner Wines Association, and the concept that connected top-quality sparkling wines, gastronomy, music and a relaxed Mediterranean lifestyle attracted numerous domestic and foreign guests and exceeded the expectations of the first edition.
At the center of #JustSparkle were – wines.
During the two festival evenings, Crikvenica became a meeting place Croatian sparkling wine scene with great world traditions and styles of sparkling wines – Champagne, Franciacorte, Prosecco and Cava. Visitors were able to explore different varieties, terroirs, production methods and styles and talk directly with producers.
A special place belongs to Kvarner. Kvarner Wines presented ten labels of Kvarner sparkling wines produced from indigenous varieties, demonstrating their breadth, freshness, Mediterranean character and potential for further development of the region's premium sparkling scene.
This very connection between indigenousness and modern wine expression is one of the directions through which Kvarner Wines continuously builds the international recognition of Kvarner's wine identity.
Sparkling wines, oysters and Kvarner scampi – a festival where people ate seriously well
The wine program was accompanied by gastronomy worthy of the festival concept. Oyster Bar by Dida, Scampi Bar by Burin and Finger Food by Esplanade They showed how well top-quality sparkling wines work with premium foods and contemporary interpretations of snacks.
Oysters, Kvarner shrimp, tartare, shrimp burger and carefully designed finger food were not just an accompaniment to the wines, but an important part of the complete eno-gastronomic experience.
The DJ program, dance performances and open city ambience have further transformed the center of Crikvenica into a gathering place for local people and guests from different parts of the world.
#JustSparkle as part of the big story of Kvarner - European Region of Gastronomy 2026.
The festival gains additional importance in the year in which Kvarner holds the title of European Region of Gastronomy 2026., a project in which The Kvarner Wines Association is one of the main carriers and active creators of wine and eno-gastronomic content.
#JustSparkle showed how wine, indigenous varieties, local gastronomy, entertainment and a tourist experience can be combined into a modern destination product that simultaneously communicates the quality, identity and way of life of Kvarner.
The ambition is for the festival to further develop and connect with Kvarner Wine Route, a platform that is part of the European network Iter Vitis, which opens up additional space for its international promotion and connection with European wine and cultural routes.
„"Just Sparkle has shown that the audience recognizes the concept that connects top wines, gastronomy, music and an attractive seaside setting. From the beginning, our goal was to create something more than just another summer event – an event that will enrich our guests' stay and further build the identity of Crikvenica as a modern Mediterranean destination. We are especially pleased that in the year of Kvarner as the European Region of Gastronomy, we have received new content that has the potential to grow and become one of the recognizable symbols of the Crikvenica summer," she emphasized. Marijana Biondić, director of the Tourist Board of the City of Crikvenica.
„#JustSparkle has shown that Kvarner has the knowledge, wines and organizational strength for premium eno-gastronomic projects that go beyond the framework of a classic event and become a tool for positioning the destination. It is particularly important that in the year of Kvarner as the European Region of Gastronomy 2026, we presented interesting Kvarner wines and sparkling wines made from indigenous varieties alongside top Croatian and relevant world styles, and showed that our wine identity can be internationally competitive.
The next step is to further connect such content through the Kvarner Wines Route and the international Iter Vitis network, and open it up to a new European audience. Ultimately, everything we do must have a clear goal – to offer our guests from Croatia, Europe and the world a better stay, an authentic experience and a reason to come back to us again. Kvarner doesn't just need to build a season; it needs to build a reason to return.“", he said Ph.D. Žarko Stilin, director of the Kvarner Wines Association and international expert in tourism marketing, eno-gastronomy and event management.
Special thanks go to to all winemakers and exhibitors who, with their wines, products, knowledge and trust, gave content and credibility to the premiere edition of the festival. It was the producers who were the heart of #JustSparkle and the best ambassadors of Croatian wine quality.
Thank you very much. To the Tourist Board of the City of Crikvenica and the City of Crikvenica on the organization, partnership and trust, all gastronomic partners, performers, collaborators and media and especially Kvarner Wines team, who participated in the realization of the festival with great commitment and professionalism.
The first edition also brought valuable experiences that the organizers will use for further improvement of the concept and an even higher standard of future editions.
Because after the first two sparkling evenings, one thing is clear: Crikvenica has gained a new festival, and Kvarner has gained another strong eno-gastronomic story with the potential to grow beyond local and national boundaries.
#JustSparkle – see you again with the best bubbles from Kvarner, Croatia and the world.
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