The Zagreb County Tourist Board hosted the opening programme of the prestigious international competition, Sauvignon Selection by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, which takes place from 7 to 9 April in Varaždin. As part of the event, Croatia welcomed 55 judges from 23 countries.
In Velika Gorica, wine experts from around the world gathered at the InterWine venue, which opened earlier this year and brings together wine heritage, cultural identity, and a unique visitor experience in one place. Here, they had the opportunity to glimpse what Zagreb County has to offer today as a wine and eno-gastronomic destination.
The programme extended beyond wine tasting. Vlado Mikulčić, President of the Grozd Association of Winemakers and Winegrowers, led a workshop on Turopolje Škrlet, which sparked great interest and received excellent feedback from the judges. At the same time, Ivana Alilović, Director of the Zagreb County Tourist Board, presented the county, its wine regions, and its broader tourism offer.
Naturally, sparkling wines took centre stage. International judges sampled a curated selection, gaining first-hand insight into the diversity of styles and the significant rise in quality achieved in recent years.
A total of 17 sparkling wines from 14 producers across Zagreb County were presented: Bedekovich, Braje, Coletti, Ivančić Griffin, Jagunić, Korak, Kos, Kurtalj, Majcenović, Puhelek Purek, Šember, Tomac & Bajda, Voštinić Klasnić, and Žnidarić.
“We are truly delighted to see such strong interest in our winemakers and sparkling wines. It is no small achievement to welcome 55 wine experts from 23 countries to Velika Gorica and offer them the opportunity to taste what is being created here in Zagreb County. This represents both a significant recognition of our work and a valuable opportunity for industry professionals to experience our region and its quality first-hand. I am confident many will leave with excellent impressions,” said Ivana Alilović.
The selection of sparkling wines from Plešivica, Prigorje, and Moslavina provided an excellent overview of contemporary production in Zagreb County and the wider Bregovita Hrvatska (Continental Croatia) wine region. Initial impressions from the judges have been highly positive, with many describing the scene as a true discovery.
Particularly noteworthy were the sparkling wines from the Jagunić, Braje, Šember, and Korak wineries, while wines from the Kos winery in Zelina also left a strong impression on several judges. Among the highlights, Jagunić Blanc de Blancs stood out, earning an impressive 94 points out of 100.
The judges will share their impressions with a wider audience, as many are also wine journalists and authors, providing an additional opportunity to enhance the international visibility of Zagreb County.
This opening programme forms part of the broader Sauvignon Selection by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, which this year brings together around 1,000 Sauvignon samples from 25 countries, evaluated by a panel of 55 judges from 23 nations.
The arrival of this renowned competition in Croatia is the result of collaboration between the Croatian National Tourist Board, Croatian Chamber of Economy, the Zagreb County Tourist Board, the Varaždin County Tourist Board, the City of Varaždin, the Međimurje County Tourist Board, the Bregovita Hrvatska Association, the Hortus Croatiae Association, and VINART.
Events such as this further strengthen Zagreb County’s position as a destination of outstanding wines and authentic experiences.
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