Kristijan Harjač of Zagreb’s Noel restaurant won the 28th Croatian Sommelier Championship, held on 1 and 2 December 2025 at the Ambasador hotel in Opatija, organised by the Croatian Sommelier Club in partnership with the Croatian National Tourist Board and under the patronage of the Kvarner Tourist Board. Twenty-one competitors took part, drawn from renowned Croatian restaurants, hotel groups and wineries. Second place went to Mate Negulić of Belaj Winery, and third to Toni Borovina of Zagreb’s ManO2 restaurant. It was Toni’s first appearance at the Championship.
Kristijan gathered the most points across describing domestic and foreign wines blind, identifying spirits, serving aperitifs, decanting red wine, pairing wines with a set menu, correcting a wine list, wine knowledge, guest service and more. It is his third champion’s title, and he will represent Croatia at the World Sommelier Championship, the ASI Contest Best Sommelier of the World, in Lisbon from 11 to 17 October 2026. Here are a few more photographs from the championship that the Croatian Sommelier Club published on its Facebook page. 
03.12.2025.
