Celebrating Croatian Viniculture: A Toast to Excellence
A Grand Showcase on the Adriatic Coast: Vinistra Hosts DWWA Winners
On the captivating Istrian coastline, Vinistra orchestrated an exceptional evening, spotlighting Croatia's triumphs at this year's Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA). The setting, the exclusive Kempinski Hotel Adriatic beach in Savudrija, provided a magnificent backdrop for the Decanter 2025 Winners Showcase, drawing approximately 200 distinguished guests from the global wine community. This gathering included esteemed DWWA judges, dedicated producers, influential media representatives, and various industry professionals, all assembled for a unique walk-around tasting experience featuring Croatia’s most acclaimed DWWA medal-winning wines.
Croatia's Stellar Performance at the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards
Croatia experienced a highly successful year at the 2025 DWWA competition, securing an impressive total of 386 medals. This remarkable tally included one coveted Platinum award, 28 Gold medals, and a substantial number of Silver and Bronze recognitions. Notably, winemakers from Istria emerged as exceptional performers, with their Malvasia grape leading the charge. Five Malvasia wines were bestowed with Gold medals, while Benvenuti’s San Salvatore 2021, a luxurious dessert wine crafted from 100% Muscat, proudly claimed the sole Platinum award. This achievement further solidifies Istria’s burgeoning status as a significant and rising star in the European wine landscape.
Acknowledging Excellence: Gold and Platinum Medalists on Display
The Vinistra DWWA Winners Showcase provided an exclusive opportunity to sample Croatia's Gold and Platinum medal-winning wines. Among these celebrated vintages were: Benvenuti, San Salvatore Muškat, Hrvatska Istra, Coastal, Croatia, 2021 (Platinum, 97 points); Fakin, La Prima Malvazija, Hrvatska Istra, Coastal 2023 (Gold, 96 points); Kozlovic, Santa Lucia Malvazija, Hrvatska Istra, Coastal 2018 (Gold, 96 points); Bruno Ferenac, Malvazija Istarska, Hrvatska Istra, Coastal 2023 (Gold, 95 points); Hvar Hills Winery, Merlot, Srednja i Južna Dalmacija, Coastal 2022 (Gold, 95 points); Hvar Hills Winery, Syrah, Srednja i Južna Dalmacija, Coastal 2022 (Gold, 95 points); Vina Bernobić, Malvazija, Hrvatska Istra, Coastal 2024 (Value Gold, 95 points); and Vina Frankovic, Korona Malvazija, Hrvatska Istra, Coastal 2019 (Gold, 95 points).
Esteemed Recognition: DWWA Judges Applaud Croatian Winemakers
During the event, winning producers were invited to the stage to receive their DWWA certificates, presented by DWWA Co-Chair Beth Willard and Dr Caroline Gilby MW, the Regional Chair for the Balkans, Central & Eastern Europe, and Croatia & Slovenia. Both personally extended their congratulations to each producer. Willard highlighted Croatia’s emergence as a crucial wine-producing nation, noting the consistent year-on-year improvement in wine quality. Gilby, a long-standing proponent of the region, underscored the strong sense of origin and genuine character that Croatian wines now consistently embody. The showcase also welcomed other distinguished DWWA judges, including Zsuzsa Toronyi and Senior Judge Igor Luković.
A Delectable Journey: Exploring Croatia's Award-Winning Wines
The event provided wine aficionados with an exceptional chance to explore DWWA medal-winning wines through a captivating walk-around tasting, unveiling the nation's profound potential for producing wines of unparalleled quality. Beyond the Gold and Platinum honorees, a diverse array of Silver and Bronze medalists from the DWWA 2025 competition were also available for tasting, offering a comprehensive glimpse into Croatia's rich viticultural landscape. This included numerous expressions of Malvasia and Teran from Istria, as well as distinct varietals from other coastal and continental regions, such as Graševina from Slavonija and wines from Dalmatia and Zagorje-Međimurje, showcasing the regional diversity and mastery of Croatian winemakers.