The town of Sveti Ivan Zelina last weekend once again confirmed its status as the wine heart of continental Croatia, hosting the 57th edition of the Exhibition of Wines of Continental Croatia. This prestigious event, known as one of the longest-running and most significant wine shows in the country, was held on Friday, June 13, 2025, gathering the elite of Croatian winemaking, numerous experts, lovers of the noble drop, and high-ranking guests. The absolute champion of the competition was declared the divine Chardonnay, an ice harvest from 2018, a masterpiece from the celebrated Bodren winery, which left both the experts and the public breathless.

The event, organized through the impeccable cooperation of the Town of Sveti Ivan Zelina and the local Tourist Board, once again proved its importance, which is also confirmed by the high patronage of the Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia, the Government of the Republic of Croatia, and the relevant ministries of agriculture and tourism, as well as Zagreb County. The ceremony was graced by the presence of Tomislav Paškvalin, envoy of President Zoran Milanović, who officially opened the event, followed by the most anticipated moment of the evening – the award ceremony for the best winemakers in the festively decorated "Kraluš" hall.

The Epicenter of Wine Excellence in Continental Croatia

This year, as many as 302 wine samples were presented to the expert judging committee, headed by the esteemed oenologist Dr. Ivana Alpez. This impressive number testifies not only to the massiveness but also to the incredible vitality, quality, and growing competitiveness of winemakers from all parts of continental Croatia. Each of these samples tells a story of terroir, tradition, innovation, and the painstaking work of winegrowers and winemakers. The committee had a far from easy task – to evaluate the organoleptic properties of hundreds of top-quality wines. The result of their work is an impressive balance of medals: 11 grand gold diplomas were awarded, representing the very top of the oenological pyramid, along with 94 gold, 119 silver, and 51 bronze diplomas, and three special recognitions, which confirms the exceptionally high and uniform quality of the submitted wines.

However, in modern winemaking, the story does not end with the content of the bottle. Visual identity, label design, and overall presentation have become key elements of market success. That is why a special segment of the evaluation was dedicated to the exterior. The committee for visual identity, led by one of Croatia's leading wine authorities, Saša Špiranac, awarded the prestigious "Dragutin Stražimir" award, thus paying tribute to those who have successfully combined top-quality wine with an equally impressive design.

Champion's Throne for the Bodren Winery's Ice Harvest

The absolute star of the 57th Exhibition was the Chardonnay ice harvest 2018 from the Bodren winery, which deservedly won the champion title with a maximum of 100 points. This wine is not just a drink, but a rare oenological gem. Ice wines, known for their complexity and opulence, are produced by harvesting grapes that have frozen on the vine at a temperature of at least -7°C. Such conditions allow for the pressing of highly concentrated must, low in water but extremely rich in sugars, acids, and aromatic compounds. The result is a sweet, yet vibrant wine, of a rich golden color with an amber reflection. The winning Chardonnay from the Bodren winery in Hum na Sutli, known precisely for its world-class predicate wines, enchanted the judges with its perfect balance of sweetness and freshness, with dominant aromas of honey, dried fruit, and citrus, leaving a long and elegant finish on the palate. This victory is another confirmation of the status of Boris Drenški and his Bodren winery as masters in the production of predicate wines.

Triumph for Zagreb County and the Indigenous Variety Kraljevina

While the overall victory went to Zagorje, Zagreb County also has reason to celebrate. The title of the overall county champion was won by the Žnidarić winery from the vicinity of Sveti Ivan Zelina with its Traminac from the 2023 harvest. This wine stood out as the best-rated white wine with residual sugar within the county, confirming the mastery of the Žnidarić family in creating aromatic and varietally recognizable wines. A particularly important award for local identity is the "Ljerka Habuzin" award, which is given to the best-rated wine of the indigenous variety Kraljevina. It was the Žnidarić winery that also won this recognition for its Kraljevina from 2024. Kraljevina, a variety that is the heart and soul of the Zelina wine region, once considered merely a raw material for spritzers, is now experiencing a renaissance thanks to winemakers like the Žnidarić family, showing its potential for creating fresh, elegant, and light wines, as well as sparkling wines, which perfectly reflect the Prigorje terroir.

Prestigious Awards for Design and Other Categories

The "Dragutin Stražimir" award for the best visual identity of a bottle this year went to Iločki podrumi for their sparkling wine Traminac No. 10. This award, named after the Zelina educator and forerunner of modern viticulture, celebrates the fusion of aesthetics and oenology. The winning design reflects the elegance and premium character of the sparkling wine, the first of its kind in Croatia produced by the classic method from 100% Traminac variety. Thus, Iločki podrumi not only offered a top-quality product but also rounded it off with a visual story that captivates at first glance. Among the other laureates, the "Milan Pažić" award for the best-rated dry still white wine was won by the Sauvignon 2024 vintage from the Puhelek-Purek winery. The "Pero Krznarić" award for the best-rated white wine with residual unfermented sugar (excluding predicates) was given to the Chardonnay from 2019 by Iločki podrumi. In the red wine category, the Blend of black varietals from 2021 from the Belje winery triumphed, while the best sparkling wine was declared to be the one from the Litterarii winery (ARTE D.O.O.) from the 2021 vintage. A curiosity is the award for the best fruit wine, which went to the haskap wine from 2024 from the Thesaurum Vina cellar.

A Fusion of Oenology, Gastronomy, and Culture

The wine exhibition in Sveti Ivan Zelina has long outgrown the framework of expert evaluation and has become a first-rate cultural and social event. The "Kraluš" hall echoed with the sounds of popular musicians Barbara Suhodolčan Vrbički and Rajko Suhodolčan, whose performances touched the hearts of those present, prompting many to sing along. At the entrance to the hall, visitors had the unique opportunity to taste all 302 evaluated wines, and they took home elegant Zelina wine glasses as a permanent souvenir. A rich gastronomic offer also ensured a complete experience. On the plateau in front of the hall, in a pleasant atmosphere for which the Tamburaški sastav Čokanj was responsible, indigenous delicacies made from local ingredients were offered, perfectly paired with the exhibitors' wines. It was a true feast for all the senses, a celebration that combines the art of winemaking, music, and cuisine into a unique and unforgettable experience.

List of main awards of the 57th Exhibition of Wines of Continental Croatia:

• Exhibition Champion: Chardonnay ice harvest 2018, VINARIJA BODREN


• "Ljerka Habuzin" Award (best Kraljevina): Kraljevina 2024, VINARIJA ŽNIDARIĆ


• "Milan Pažić" Award (best dry white wine): Sauvignon 2024, VINARIJA PUHELEK-PUREK


• "Pero Krznarić" Award (best white wine with residual sugar): Chardonnay 2019, ILOČKI PODRUMI D.O.O.


• Award for the best-rated predicate wine: Chardonnay ice harvest 2018, VINARIJA BODREN


• Award for the best-rated red wine: Blend of black varietals 2021, BELJE PLUS d.o.o.


• Award for the best-rated sparkling wine: Sparkling wine 2021, ARTE D.O.O., LITTERARII


• Award for the best-rated fruit wine: Haskap 2024, THESAURUM VINA


• "Dragutin Stražimir" Award (best visual identity): Sparkling wine No.10, ILOČKI PODRUMI D.O.O.

Awards for the best-rated wines of Zagreb County:

• Overall County Champion: Traminac 2023, VINARIJA ŽNIDARIĆ


• Still dry white wine: Sauvignon 2024, VINARIJA PUHELEK PUREK


• Still white wine with residual sugar: Traminac 2023, VINARIJA ŽNIDARIĆ


• Still rosé and red wine: Merlot 2023, BOŽIDAR KOMERIČKI


• Sparkling wine: Sparkling wine 2023, ZDRAVKO RUNTAS


• Wine from the last harvest year: Sauvignon 2024, VINARIJA PUHELEK PUREK

Winemakers and visitors parted in an optimistic spirit, filled with impressions and with sincere wishes for the most successful upcoming harvest, which, everyone hopes, will yield even better wines for the next, 58th Exhibition of Wines of Continental Croatia in the town of Sveti Ivan Zelina.