At the Gospoja prosciutto in Vrbnik Kvarner Tourist Board, Association Kvarner Wines and Klaudio Jurcic have implemented and presented a new project “Žlahtina in a glass with a signature”, which is a continuation of the large project „Žlahtina – the wine queen of Kvarner“. The project is another important step towards realizing the vision of Kvarner as a European region of gastronomy. This project brings an innovation that will allow Žlahtina, the queen of Kvarner wines, to shine in a glass created just for it.
In collaboration with a renowned global glass manufacturer, Italesse, Žlahtina will receive its own special glass, carefully selected by experts, so that its unique flavors can be enjoyed in the best possible way. Our queen deserves nothing less, and wine lovers deserve the full experience of enjoying it. Oenologists, winery owners, wine journalists, sommeliers, and restaurant owners gathered in Vrbnik and chose from 9 offered glasses for Žlahtina. 2 glasses crystallized from which Italesse will create a special glass for wine and sparkling wine of the indigenous Kvarner wine variety Žlahtina.
Host of the glass selection and president of the Kvarner Wines Association Anton Brusic said that he was extremely pleased that the Kvarner Tourist Board recognized Žlahtina as the most important wine motif and supported Klaudio Jurčić's project - ŽLAHTINA, the wine queen of Kvarner, the continuation of which is the selection of a wine glass made from this variety. One of the most often neglected, but extremely important components of the wine experience is the glass in which the wine is served. The right wine glass is not just a question of aesthetics, but it is a key element that can transform your wine drinking experience. I am also glad that my colleague Jurčić chose and arranged for the Italesse factory, one of the world's most important glass factories, to be involved in the project. We, seven producers of Žlahtina wine in Kvarner, who produce 40 labels and almost 2 million bottles of Žlahtina wine, welcome the project and are very happy to be involved in it - said Brusić at the beginning of the project implementation. I would like to take this opportunity to announce our new major project, the national international evaluation of Kvarner wines International Wine Trophy which will be held on 7.3.2025. in Vrbnik, for which we already have over 200 wine samples and we expect even more. The judges are certified HAPIH judges, famous sommeliers and wine journalists, and the judging will also be done from Italesse glasses, which have thus become our important partner in this project. The awards for the best rated wines will be awarded at the International Eno-Gastro Festival Winers March 21st at Export Drvo in Rijeka – concluded Brusić.
Project Žlahtina in a glass with a signature is focused on developing the ideal glass that will best highlight all the organoleptic properties of Žlahtina – its freshness, fruitiness and the characteristics that adorn the young and fresh variant of this variety. To ensure that the shape and size of the glass are fully adapted to Žlahtina, 20 recognized experts in the field of oenology and sommelier will participate in the process. Their tasting and expert assessment will be key in creating a glass that will provide the ultimate experience of enjoying this unique wine, said about the project Claudio Jurcic.
Director of the Kvarner Tourist Board Ph.D. Irena Peršić Živadinov She emphasized that she is extremely pleased that the cooperation between the Kvarner Tourist Board and the Kvarner Wines Association continues through this valuable project. Finding the perfect glass for Žlahtina is of exceptional importance for our region because in this way we further brand Žlahtina as Queen of Kvarner, but also the destination itself. This is especially important in the context of the fact that in 2026, Kvarner will take the prestigious title of European Gastronomy Region, and projects like this additionally confirm the richness and authenticity of our wine and gastronomy offer.
In Opatija, February 28, 2025
