Ten Crljenaks for a perfect ten 

On Wednesday, the Split Tourism and Hospitality School hosted a masterclass entitled "Returning to the Roots of Kaštelanski Crljenak" led by a renowned oenologist Slaven Jelicic. Ten Crljenak wines were tasted, highlighting the quality of this variety, widely known as Zinfandel. On this occasion, winemakers exchanged their experiences and emphasized the importance of knowing the history of wine and the influence of Crljenak in the world.

Croatian winemakers have created the almost impossible in 30 years. They regularly win gold medals at prestigious competitions, such as Decanter, and export wines to prestigious Michelin-starred restaurants!

Although the 2024 harvest was very specific and the earliest in European history, as some had their harvest as early as early August, this did not affect the quality of Crljenak. We have very good results, said the wine educator and university professor Daniel Cecavac, one of Croatia's top sommeliers, who at this year's ZINFEST held "Masterclass – The last vintage of Crljenka".

Marina Kaštela is once again the host of the international Crljenak and Relatives Festival, Zinfest 2025., as we announced, which will bring together numerous winemakers and grape growers and will present the largest number of Crljenaks to date, as many as 30 of them. The event program will offer wine tasting workshops led by famous sommeliers, tasting of traditional dishes prepared by top chefs and folk cooks, with a special emphasis on dishes from the Dalmatian brunch menu, as well as the presentation of interesting projects and initiatives. As part of the event, we will hold a competition in the preparation of the Dalmatian brunch, and the dishes will be judged by a jury composed of top gastro-eno The opening ceremony is on Thursday, November 13th at 13 pm in the Spinnaker restaurant.

WORLD wine production is expected to recover only slightly in 2025, and Italy will once again sit at the top of the world rankings, according to estimates from the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV), writes Index.

The southern slopes of Kozjak have been rich in vineyards since ancient times, and the tradition of viticulture on Putalj has been alive for 1100 years. The Kovač family has been its heirs for generations, and the marly soil and sunny steep positions enable the cultivation of vines and the production of wines of exceptional quality.
OWNER Putalj wineries Anton Kovač from Sućurac speaks about his vineyard with great love, because as he says, your heart leads you to where you belong.

The Second Meeting of Tourist Experience Creators was successfully held at the "Hidden Dalmatia" Visitor Center in Dugopolje, organized by the Administrative Department for Tourism, Maritime Affairs and Transport of the Split-Dalmatia County. The meeting brought together micro-entrepreneurs from the tourism sector, with a focus on creating a unique offer in the interior of the Split-Dalmatia County. Numerous examples of the successful combination of passion, tradition and innovation in tourism were highlighted, and among the speakers was Anita Kuzmanić from the Kuzmanić Winery from Kaštel Novi. 

Croatia has once again received its best farmers this year, among them OPG Perišin from Kaštel Kambelovac, which received a great recognition as part of the "Worth the Gold" project. at the end of the 12th edition of the project in strong competition among 21 finalists. 3rd place went to young Ivan Perišin, or rather his family farm. The most valuable family farmers who preserve tradition, improve production and make an invaluable contribution to the development of agriculture were awarded.

KAŠTELA TOURIST BOARD: THE SUN AND HANDS' LABOR REFLECTED IN A GLASS OF RED WINE

Kaštela winegrowers have started this year's harvest. The harvest has begun and they will spend most of the next two months in the vineyards on the slopes of Kozjak. It will start mainly with the harvest of Pošip and Crljenak, followed by the harvest of Plavac and Maraština.

The Split-Dalmatia County is a candidate for the Gastro Region of Europe 2027, it was officially confirmed at today's press conference. The Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board believes that our gastronomy, agriculture, especially olive growing and winemaking, culture and level of professionalism and education are at a level that meets even the strictest criteria.

Ivica Kovačević, a winemaker from Kaštela and owner of the Sikuli winery, last weekend became the winner of the annual "Miljenko Grgić" ​​award for his contribution to winemaking and viticulture. The award is given by the Vino Dalmacija association, which brings together regional winemakers and which organized the festival of the same name in Podstrana last weekend.

The first national international wine evaluation of Central and Southeastern European wine, the "Kvarner International Wine Trophy", was held at the Gospoja ham factory in Vrbnik on the island of Krk, with the participation of the famous Kaštelan winemaker and winegrower Ivica Radunić with Crljenko Kaštelanski, vintage 2021.

The Society for the Preservation of Cultural and Natural Heritage Bijaći and the Kaštela Crljenak Association are organizing the 22nd Kaštela Wine Evening as part of the celebration of the Day of the City of Kaštela and on this occasion they invite all interested winemakers from the Kaštela area to bring their wines for sampling and evaluation. Samples can be brought to the premises of the Kaštelacoop Winery in Kaštela Stari, on January 23 and 24 from 17 to 19 p.m., and on Saturday, January 25, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

In the last four years, according to Eurostat data, Croatian winemakers have increased prices by as much as 7,5 times the European Union average. In other words, from 2020 to 2024, their prices increased by as much as 52 percent, it says. Agroclub.

Dedication and love for wine and viticulture are the foundation of a family tradition that has been passed down for six generations in the Kuzmanić family from Kaštel Novi. Marina Kuzmanić is the sixth generation in her family that continues to combine expertise, dedication and love in every drop of wine. Namely, Marina completed her undergraduate studies in Mediterranean Agriculture in Split, majoring in viticulture and enology, in September and enrolled in graduate studies.

CRLJENKA AND RELATIVES FESTIVAL OPENED

This year's ZINFEST, which will be held from November 14th to 16th, was officially opened today in Marina Kaštela, with numerous guests, including winemakers, winegrowers, sommeliers, top chefs and cooks, where the Crljenak Kaštelaski will be celebrated over the next two days with traditional food. This will present, among others, more than 150 unique traditional grape and wine varieties, while the programs will offer an unforgettable experience and a sense of staying on the Kaštela Riviera, as we announced at Portal.

THREE CROATIAN VINEYARDS LISTED IN THE TEN MOST BEAUTIFUL EUROPEAN VINEYARDS

Three of the ten most beautiful European vineyards are located in Croatia. At least according to DFDS research based on an analysis of Google reviews. All three vineyards are in Dalmatia. They are Vinarija Rizman, Kastel Sikuli and Vitis Winery, writes Forbes.

The story of wine and gastronomy of Kaštela continues today, and the presentation of a new publication entitled "Kaštela on a Plate and in a Glass" was held at Villa Nika. 

The occassional program for awarding the label "Zinfandel friendly" was held on Wednesday at the Ballet School restaurant in Kaštel Kambelovac, and was awarded to catering establishments based on the quality of food and drinks, with special emphasis on the price and atmosphere of the establishment. 

As part of the Kaštela Creative Spring, an evaluation of top Kaštela crljenak wines was held last night, and in the voting in which winemakers who produce top-quality indigenous Kaštela crljenak participated, the overall winner was Ivan Kuzmanić.

As part of the celebration of the City of Kaštela Day, the 21st Kaštela Wine Evening was held this year, organized by the Kaštela Wine Association and the Bijaći Society, in the premises of Marina Kaštela. The winemaker repeated the success Neven Vuina, who is the absolute winner with his red hair with 87 points won.