Wine festivals showcase young vintages in Slovenia and Croatia

Regional wine festivals in Slovenia and Croatia recently highlighted the latest young vintages from local producers.

In Maribor, Slovenia, the 11th PUBEC Salon of Styrian Young Wines brought together 19 wineries at the Minorit Church. The event, now in its 12th season, serves as a promotional platform for Styrian winemakers despite a challenging growing season marked by drought and weather instability.

In Svetvinčenat, Croatia, the traditional Young Wine Festival featured 17 Istrian winemakers. The event included a professional tasting of Malvasia samples judged by sommelier Emil Perdeca. Vina Bruno Ferenac received the highest honor, the 'big gold' medal, while several other producers received gold, silver, and bronze awards. The festival also included the second edition of the Štriga trail race, which attracted nearly 500 participants.