Kvarner Wines

There are several top winemakers in the small town of Vrbnik. Ivan Katunar, the father, and his family decided to combine their love of wine and wine-growing tradition in the late 1980s. In those years, private entrepreneurship in the wine industry was just beginning to take shape.

This thought guided them and thirty years later led them to top-quality, award-winning wines and a well-known and recognized name on the Croatian wine scene. The younger generation continued the work they had already started and continues to expand the wine range.

When you become a top winemaker using an indigenous variety like Žlahtina, then your imagination, and Katunar has no shortage of it, pushes you into new innovations and ventures, so today Ivan Katunar's family produces Žlahtina in as many as six styles of wine: as an excellent sparkling wine, classic white wine, wine aged in wooden barrels, dessert wine, and the amber wine Ambra and Pet – Nat Žlahtina Ancestrale. In addition to all the varieties of Žlahtina wine, they also produce Chardonnay, Yellow Muscat, Rosé, Sauvignon, Merlot, and it is certainly worth mentioning another indigenous variety from the Kvarner region – the red wine Sansigot. 

In addition to wines, Ivan Katunar also produces excellent liqueurs, brandies and olive oil.

1. How did the story of the Ivan Katunar Wine House begin?

Ivan Katunar, an electrical engineer by profession, after working in IT, although he was not a winemaker by profession, he and his wife and two sons exchanged computers for a tavern that was upgraded and equipped with modern equipment over the years.

He is a pioneer of Croatian winemaking, and his technical expertise helped him introduce some innovations into his business that winemakers had not known before (cold fermentation of must and cold stabilization of wine). Since new technologies were unavailable for cooling must and wine, he improvised with an existing chamber and household freezers.
He was always looking for new technical solutions in his vineyards and cellar.

After his first gold medal and the Grand Gold at the Wine in Croatia fair, to which he sent his wine, which he gave to business partners for the holidays, he started a family business at the Katunar Winery.

2. And after Ivan again Ivan?

Ivan Katunar, the son, graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture in Zagreb and as an oenologist at the Ivan Katunar Wine House, respecting his father's experience, he shaped wines by following scientific achievements.

As a child, he worked in the vineyard and helped in the cellar, and from the age of twelve he worked independently on the press during the harvest and helped his father in the cellar.

As a young oenologist, he introduced cold maceration of grapes, continued cold fermentation of must, and introduced aging of wine on yeast. He expanded the wine range, so that today the Wine House offers 12 labels.

Thanks to his work, Sansigot, the first premium red wine from the indigenous variety of the same name, is now on the market. Winemaking has become Ivan's passion, as confirmed by awards at wine fairs.

3. In the predominantly male world of winemaking and viticulture at the Ivan Katunar Wine House, Egle Katunar stands out the most. Where in Vrbnik did "Istrianka-Bumbarka" (a nickname for Vodnjanka, ed.) come from?

First she fell in love with the winemaker, and later with wine... and now she loves both.

Egle, a water girl, decided to listen to her heart and move to Vrbnik, following young Ivan, and thus became part of the family story of the Ivan Katunar Wine House.

She enriched the family story of wine production with a new tourist offer.

As a great lover of tradition, she began to passionately present local Krk and Vrbnik customs through wine tastings. Through her experience of the island, she conveys the story of winemaking and viticulture in Vrbnik.

4. You are extremely proud of your Sansigot, what is so special about it?

About 20 years ago, we started revitalizing and commercializing Sanzygote, a forgotten variety on the verge of extinction.

Seeing its potential, we planted a monovarietal vineyard because traditionally, red varieties were planted with three or more varieties in the same vineyard and blends were produced.

The first commercial Sansigot harvest was in 2008, and as such the first Sansigot label on the market. Since then, a lot of effort has been invested in educating and presenting it as a variety to wine lovers and experts in the wine world.

Today, we are proud that year after year we receive world gold medals for this wine.

If Žlahtina is our queen, Sansigot is definitely our king.

5. Sitting on the terrace, we enjoyed the beautiful view of the city…

To experience Vrbnik in all its cultural and historical values, it is essential to enjoy its food and wine products and taste its indigenous wine varieties. The view of the "city on a high mountain" will complete and round off the entire experience.

At the Ivan Katunar Wine House, we are individually dedicated to each guest and wine lover. We strive to ensure that they leave our tasting room with a bottle of wine and beautiful memories.