Were it not for Covid, this would have been a nicely round 20th International Festival of Wine and Cuisine, VINOcom. As it was, for four days from 27 to 30 November we savoured wines at the stands and in the workshops of the 18th edition. Here is the story in 18 photos. 
There was plenty to nibble on, too…
Baraka Prisbus is a Bordeaux blend and the number one among the 100 best Croatian wines of 2025. And Babić — the indigenous Dalmatian red — is, well, Babić…
Borče Nečev, oenologist of the Macedonian winery Bovin, with Ciganka… that is the translation of the name of the excellent Vranac A’gupka
We also tasted some of the finest Frankovka (Blaufränkisch) from the previous week’s judging of 66 wines of this variety
Four still white wines from the Sirovica family of Plešivica, with a sparkling wine as the fifth ace
You can never have too many bubbles… Pavlomir 1288
A little more sparkle, then Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir. The Stručić winery from Ludbreg
The macerated Škrlet — an indigenous white — of Nikica Katić from Kleti Romić in Moslavina
Only the best is good enough for a dowry
The ‘Dida moj’ Babić wines of the Bura winery from Raslina
A keepsake photo from the 18th Festival
The Tokaj Sauska Essencia 2003 is sweet poison in a small bottle
The Pošip of the Korčula winery Nerica: white, rosé and… yes, yes, there is such a thing as red Pošip
The attractive offspring of the Kvarner winery Karleuša
Pjer is a sparkling wine from the Bačić winery, made by the traditional method from Cetinka, an indigenous variety of Korčula
Riesling from Alsace…
And there was singing too, of course… It’s a Festival, after all
Whatever anyone might think, pulling off the 18th VINOcom was no easy feat… But it was lovely.
Photographs: Ivana Pranjić, Cork Croatia
01.12.2025.
