Just as we increasingly mind what we eat, we are ever more often beginning to think about what we drink. Who stands behind the products we consume, how they are made and how much they respect nature are questions no longer reserved for a narrow circle of ecologically aware people, but are becoming part of everyday life.
That is precisely why the last weekend of May will draw many towards the green hills of Bedenica, not far from Zagreb, where on 29 and 30 May the 2nd ECO-WINE FEST takes place — a festival of organic winemakers from Croatia and neighbouring countries.
This is an event that gathers winemakers holding valid organic certificates, as well as those in the process of converting to sustainable production, offering visitors the chance to taste — all in one place — wines made with respect for nature, soil and traditional cultivation.
The festival also has an international character so that, alongside domestic visitors, it attracts guests from neighbouring countries, further contributing to the development of continental tourism and to promoting Zagreb County as an eno-gastro destination.
But the ECO-WINE FEST is not only a wine festival. The organisers envisage it as a full-day outing and an experience in nature — a blend of wine, local gastronomy and the relaxed atmosphere of hilly Croatia.
Visitors can look forward to a music programme, a POP-UP wine bar in the evening hours, and a presentation of the local family farms (OPGs) of the Bedenica area. Special attention will also be given to the award-winning wines, which can be tasted in a dedicated part of the festival grounds.
At a time when we increasingly seek authentic content, an escape from the city and events with a story, the ECO-WINE FEST offers exactly what many feel is missing today — a slower pace, local products and the sense of living a little more connected to nature.
