I chose nothing; I simply walked into the cellar and pulled out wines at random, every two or three years, Ivan Enjingi said, almost by way of apology, as he showed what he had brought to a tasting arranged for a handful of friends by Suhi and Dropi, that is, the wine-and-journalism doyen Željko Suhadolnik and Ivan Dropuljić, director of the VinoCOM festival. So, at random, alongside the current Graševina 2023, he had reached for the 2007, the sensational 2003, the 2002, the extraordinary millennial 2000, and then the 1997 and 1994. Mostly late harvests, of course, as is that 32-year-old veteran. There were around 40,000 bottles, Ivo recalled. 
The 1998 Venje opened the second round of the tasting. The label is invisible, buried under decades of dust, yet the nose and palate come through with striking clarity, and they are magnificent. The wine is simply, unbelievably young. Let us recall: this was the champion of Decanter’s very first judging back in 2004. Less widely known is that the Graševina 2002 took the same title in its own category that year. From there we carried on through the Venje in the more usual order, from younger to older: the 2015 is currently on sale, followed by the 2012, 2010, 2008, 2007 and then the 2006, a vintage I have more than once called the finest Croatian wine. We also tasted the 2004, 2003 and 2002. 
It is hard to believe how fresh the great majority of these wines remain. You can read about them in more depth soon, from the pen of the Wine Hunter, Tomo Jakopović. Until then, and long after, seize every chance to taste them: it will brighten your day, however bad or good it may be…
10.01.2026.
