“Zadar Is in My Heart”: the jubilee Wine ViP Event at Hotel A’Mare united education, the eno-gastro scene, and a charity drive
On Tuesday, 24 February 2026, Zadar was one of the key stops in the jubilee, tenth year of Wine ViP Event – a gathering that simultaneously targets hospitality and tourism professionals and an audience that wants to understand what quality in service, on the wine list, and on the plate means today. The host was Hotel & Restaurant A’Mare (Ulica bana Josipa Jelačića 4A), and the program, according to announcements, was scheduled from 14:00 to 21:00, with education sessions, eno-gastro presentations, a cooking show, tastings, and a music program with a charitable character. Already in the first hours it was clear this was an edition that goes beyond “classic” tasting: guests constantly moved between the exhibitor area and the lecture halls, and the atmosphere did not “fade” even after the official segments.
In Zadar as well, the organizers insisted on the format by which Wine ViP Event is recognizable: practical knowledge, products “by the glass and on the plate,” and a socially responsible dimension through collecting donations for the League Against Cancer Zadar. For visitors who came to the city because of the event or decided to extend their stay, it is practical to have in one place
accommodation offers in Zadar, especially if one plans to stay after the hotel program ends.
Ten years of the project and “numbers that speak for themselves”
In 2026, Wine ViP Event marks ten years of continuity, and the announcements emphasize that in the first nine years more than 80 lecturers, sommeliers, and experts were gathered, more than 50 chefs and cooks were hosted with more than 150 authentic specialties, and more than 200 exhibitors and partners were connected, along with more than 2,500 professionals who attend the events year after year. They also mention 43 events held in various cities, positioning Wine ViP Event as a tour that builds an audience beyond a single “central” location. The Zadar jubilee edition confirmed that pattern: interest was not limited to one point in the program, but flowed throughout the day, with a pronounced focus on the educational segment.
Why are those numbers important for a reader outside the profession? Because they speak of a project that does not rely on one-off “hype,” but on repetition and standardization: when, year after year, hoteliers, producers, educators, and suppliers gather in one hall, the threshold of guest expectations grows – from service communication to the way wine is recommended and served.
Institutional support and local partnership
According to the program published by the organizers, the patronage of the Zadar jubilee edition is linked with state institutions, among which the Ministry of Tourism and Sport and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries are mentioned. The partner circle highlights Zadar County, the City of Zadar, the Croatian National Tourist Board, the Zadar County Tourist Board, the Zadar Tourist Board, and the Zadar County Chamber of Trades and Crafts, with additional support that the announcements also mention at the level of local self-government. The opening speeches in Zadar were short but content-wise clear: the emphasis was placed on continuity, the importance of a joint approach, and the message that quality in tourism is not decoration, but strategy.
For a city that lives an intense tourism dynamic in season, such support also has a clear market logic: education and networking of the sector, especially outside the peak season, are usually an investment in the next year. That is precisely why many “operational” conversations could be heard on site – from procurement and wine lists to service organization, kitchen optimization, and communication with guests who increasingly seek authenticity, but also professional execution.
The educational segment: from the first impression to “truth in the glass”
The program in Zadar began with a welcome drink, and then quickly moved to content that, by concept, is oriented toward everyday work in hospitality. Waitress and educator Gordana Hajtić, in a lecture on communication and professionalism in service, reminded attendees of what is often forgotten in practice: the guest experiences quality through details, and the first impression, consistency, and clear communication are often just as important as the offer itself. In the hall, practical messages were being noted – from the tone of greeting to how complaints are handled – because it is precisely in such situations that the experience “breaks.”
The central educational moment brought the topic “Champagne vs. Sparkling Adria – Truth in the Glass,” led in Zadar by Kristijan Harjač, multiple-time Croatian sommelier champion. The format was conceived as a professional yet accessible comparison of a prestigious global segment with regional sparkling wines, with an emphasis on understanding style, service, and the context in which wine is offered. The audience experienced that part of the program as a “workshop for fieldwork”: how to explain the difference to a guest without stereotypes, how to set expectations in the price–value relationship, and how to connect a recommendation with food without sounding rehearsed.
Authentic products: spirits, organic wines, and olive oil
After the sommelier segment, the program continued through presentations that emphasize regional identity and demand trends. The presentation of Berryshka spirits was led by representatives of the distillery, together with Jure Andrijašević, an educator with international wine qualifications. The emphasis was on “stories in a glass” that audiences seek today: origin, production method, style, and pairing possibilities – not only in bars, but also in gastronomy, where spirits are increasingly entering sauces, reductions, and signature cocktails.
In the same block, OPG Radoslav Bobanović presented organic wines and olive oils, and an educational workshop by the OIO Vivo brand drew attention to a segment that is natural to Dalmatia but is often insufficiently explained in service: olive oil as part of the kitchen’s identity, not a “table add-on.” The message for hospitality professionals was clear: when a guest understands the product, they are more willing to pay for quality, and the venue gains a story that can be conveyed through recommendation and presentation.
Cooking show: sea and land on the plate, with strong local and guest teams
The gastro presentations in Zadar were conceived as a concrete demonstration: “Meat and Fish Without Worries,” performed by chef Doris Vlah and guest chefs, aimed to show how techniques, local ingredients, and service feasible in real conditions can be combined. The cooking segment also featured guests from the television culinary format MasterChef, Barbara Grubišić and Jurica Jurašković, while the “home ground” was represented by the Hotel and Tourism Hospitality School Zadar and Zadar restaurants 2 Ribara and Kornat. In the announcements and on site, chefs Dragan Radović (2 Ribara) and Stefan Stevanovski (Kornat) were also highlighted, giving the event additional weight: the audience could compare styles, techniques, and approaches, and also ask everything that in the kitchen and service is otherwise learned the hard way – by trial and error.
During cooking, the space was filled with aromas, conversations, and a constant flow of visitors, and that very dynamic showed how important the “live” concept is. While some followed the education sessions, others returned to plates and glasses, seeking details about ingredients, execution, and how to adapt recipes and techniques to their own capacities.
Partners and sponsors: from institutions to food suppliers
At the level of the official program published before the event, institutions and local tourism organizations are listed among partners and patrons, as well as commercial partners such as OTP Bank, Romerquelle, METRO Croatia, and the A’Mare hotel itself. In Zadar announcements and organizer communication, companies connected with ingredients and supply were also mentioned among sponsors and suppliers, including Mesnice Bođirković, Cromaris, Belje, and Vivita, which in practice meant visible logistical support for the cooking and tasting segment. It is important to emphasize that partner lists in such projects sometimes differ depending on the city and execution, but the common point was the same: without stable supply there is no convincing presentation, and without good products there is no story about quality.
Charity note: donations for the League Against Cancer Zadar
One of the strongest elements of the Zadar edition was the charitable dimension. The announcements emphasized that instead of a classic ticket, participation is via a donation (in a model of 5 or 10 euros, with the possibility of a higher amount), and organizers stressed that the entire collected amount is directed to the League Against Cancer Zadar. Such a model has a double effect: it gathers a broad audience because the content remains accessible, and at the same time encourages a sense of shared responsibility – that a good evening can be turned into concrete help.
The League Against Cancer Zadar is recognized in the local community through activities related to prevention, support for patients, and fundraising for the needs of oncology patients. In information published by Zadar health institutions, it is stated that donations are also directed to the procurement of medical equipment needed for diagnostics and therapy, through dedicated fundraising models and cooperation with associations. That is precisely why the charitable part of Wine ViP Event in Zadar had a weight that goes beyond symbolism: the audience was not “only” at an event, but participated in a story with a concrete address and meaning.
Music program and the emotional moment of the evening
The final part of the day at Hotel A’Mare took on a different rhythm. The program was hosted by actress Tamara Šoletić, and the charitable music segment brought together performers who gave the event a distinctly local stamp: Marina Tomašević, Boris Rogoznica, Klapa Diadora, Marko Zekanović, Anđela Malinka, and the duo GitMan. At one moment, when a refrain and emotion spontaneously caught on in the room, the well-known
“Zadar is in my heart, Zadar is in my soul” could be heard, which became a kind of informal “sentence of the evening.” Such moments cannot be staged, but they often say more than protocol: they show how professional content can naturally merge with the city’s identity and a sense of belonging.
Why Zadar is a good host for this format
Zadar, as an urban center that in recent years has expanded its offer beyond “classic” summer tourism, is a logical framework for an event that combines education and experience. Hotel A’Mare proved to be a venue that can take on multiple functions in one day: from workshops and presentations to evening socializing, without losing rhythm. For guests coming to Zadar from other parts of Croatia, it is often crucial to plan logistics in advance – from arrival to accommodation – so it is useful to check
accommodation near the event venue if one wants to stay late or combine the event with a short city break.
In conversations with the audience, it could also be heard that the value of such meetings lies in “translating” trends into the language of practice. Sparkling wines, spirits, organic production, olive oils, but also service communication – these are all topics the HoReCa sector cannot solve with a single training. However, when content repeats year after year, standards are created that slowly become the norm, and host cities gain additional visibility in the part of the season that is not burdened by crowds.
The bigger picture: Wine ViP Event as a tour and a tool for raising standards
According to information from the organizers, the jubilee year was conceived as a tour through five Croatian cities, with programs that keep the same backbone but are adapted to the local context. The concept of “free” entry with a donation for charitable purposes remained the core message, and Zadar was an important Dalmatian stop in that series.
- Zagreb – Hotel Antunović (5 February 2026)
- Rijeka – Hotel Bonavia (10 February 2026)
- Pula – Resort Ribarska Koliba (12 February 2026)
- Zadar – Hotel A’Mare (24 February 2026)
- Split – Hotel Amphora (26 February 2026)
In that sense, the Zadar jubilee edition should also be read as part of a broader attempt to raise standards systematically, through repetition and networking. When, in one hall, hospitality professionals, sommeliers, wine and olive oil producers, suppliers, and educators meet, contacts arise that often turn into collaborations. It is precisely in such “side” conversations that concrete problems are not rarely solved: from the choice of glasses and procurement to creating a wine list or introducing local products into the menu, with clearer communication toward the guest.
What remained after the Zadar jubilee edition
If success is measured by atmosphere and audience engagement, the Zadar edition of Wine ViP Event left the impression of an event that did not “run the program” and go home. The halls were filled during the educational part, exhibitor tables constantly surrounded by conversations, and the charitable dimension present throughout the day – from donations to the music program. The organizers state that the complete amount of collected donations was paid to the League Against Cancer Zadar, but the amount of funds collected at the time of writing was not publicly announced. For Zadar, such events have additional value beyond one evening: they confirm that the city can host content not tied exclusively to the season, and that the local eno-gastro scene can carry both education and charity in the same breath.
And for visitors who want to combine the experience with a stay in the city, it is practical to check in time
accommodation offers for visitors in Zadar and leave room for what most often happens at such evenings – that one talks, tastes, and stays longer than planned.
Sources:- Croatian Radio (Radio Zadar) – announcement and data on the continuity and scope of Wine ViP Event (link)
- Dantes / Ricerca Mercato – official program and list of patrons/partners for the Zadar edition on 24 February 2026 (link)
- eZadar – announcement of the event at Hotel A’Mare (date, time, location, donation model 5/10 euros) (link)
- Z NET – program announcement and highlighted content (charity segment, participants, and institutional support) (link)
- Antena Zadar – program announcement (lectures, products, and the charitable dimension) (link)
- League Against Cancer Zadar – basic information about the association and its activities (link)
- Zadar General Hospital – information on donations and dedicated fundraising in cooperation with the League (link)
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