For the seventh consecutive year now Istria Gourmet Festival has been attesting to the fact that top-quality sports and wines go hand in hand. This year's edition of the festival will take place between July 15 and 24 as part of the 27th Konzum Croatia Open Umag. Every year this unique event attracts an increasing number of fans of Istria's culinary and enological treasures, and this year one of the world's leading sommeliers, Giuseppe Vaccarini, has already confirmed his arrival to the festival. He is a true legend on the world's wine scene and is coming to Umag to enjoy top-quality tennis as well as to hold a masterclass lecture on Istriangrappas.
Giuseppe Vaccarini boasts an enviable career. Former chairman of the world's and Italian sommelier associations and winner of the Trophée Ruinart for Best Sommelier of Europe continues to actively participate in the work of these associations even if is he is no longer at their helm, and serves as jury president for different national and international competitions. In almost 45 years of professionally tasting and rating wines, he has held numerous workshops and masterclasses around the world, and shared his knowledge to likeminded enthusiasts through a number of books translated in several languages.
"We are extremely proud that Mr. Vaccarini will hold a masterclass lecture as part of the Istria Gourmet Festival. The festival's wine program is of special importance, each year bringing top Istrian winemakers and some of the biggest names on the international wine scene. Last year, for instance, the masterclass lecture for the true wine lovers was held by Paolo Basso, the 2013 best sommelier in the world, and we are confident that Mr. Vaccarini's lecture will be very inspiring and instructive for the partners of our tournament," Istraturist director and chairman of the tournament's Organizing Committee Ronald Korotaj said.
Alongside Istria'sgrappas, Malvasia will also be the hot topic at the Istria Gourmet Festival. Croatia's leading sommelier Daniela Kramarić will give a lecture and host a tasting entitled Malvasia for All Seasons. Daniela will showcase her own selection of 15-odd fine wines of different ages and styles and from different Istrian terrains.
Apart from the lectures by Giuseppe Vaccarini and Daniela Kramarić, the organizers have announced a myriad of other interesting events, including the presentation of the official brochure, providing and attractive overview of the first five years of the Istria Gourmet Festival. Alongside the traditional wine tastings Hidden Charms of the Istrian Wines, on Monday, July 18, the visitors will be able to attend a unique tasting event Istrian Champions. The event will feature a presentation and tasting of the Istrian winemakers' wines that have won awards at some of the most prestigious international competitions, including International Wine Challenge, Decanter World Wine Awards and Challenge International du Vin. At these competitions, special awards were presented to wineries Veralda and Laguna Vina (2016 Decanter World Wine Awards for both wineries), Benvenuti (2016 International Wine Challenge) and Kozlović (2016 Challenge International du Vin) and they will use the opportunity to showcase their award-winning wines.
