The regional wine and tourism train, as part of the 6th Wine and Snack Festival 'Slavonia and Podravina, Wine Not?', stopped at its sixth stop – in Orahović. Here, the event 'Wine and Walk' was presented, a walk through nature and vineyards under the sun, with a glass in hand, a drop, and fine snacks.
The story began six years ago, just as the festival itself, under the name 'Wine Run'. The event in its current form was designed by the management of the Orahović Tourist Board, led by the then-director Lana Jurkin, in cooperation with the Virovitica-Podravina County Tourist Board. This year, more than 100 participants gathered from all over Croatia.
The programme began with a gathering at the Orahović Lake. The first point was the vineyard location of Agro Invest Group and PP Orahovića – Jezerac, where the same group presented its fine wines, led by the most famous green silvans, accompanied by snacks from their own fish products and desserts with hazelnuts. The next stop was the Patkoš Winery, where the brothers Vedran and Toni presented their wines, a range of local products, and products from local farmers.
The walk continued through the vineyards of Mount Albus, where the participants were led by the team of Kristina and Ivica Zupc. Here, the products of the family of Kristina and Krešimir Kostelac, who have been winning the world with their liqueurs for 20 years, were presented. The participants were also introduced to the wines of the family of Jović and the family of Vilko Tivkova from Crkvari, and the welcome was in the spirit of the Slavic, with the performance of the male choir of the Crkvari and several traditional Slavic songs.
The wine adventure ended at the lake in Orahović, in a large tent, where the family of Matković delighted with their 'honest' wines. The final evening was celebrated with the Suhopolje band.
The enologist and ambassador of wine, Ivana Nemet, stated that in this region, the number of dark, red wines is increasing, as the culture of drinking such wines is greater here. She added that people from other counties come to the event, and that several walks and visits to the vineyards in one day are combined.
The director of the Virovitica-Podravina County Tourist Board, Martina Jakelić, who designed the wine and the route, said that the first year and the beginning of the festival were one of the most sought-after locations and events in the region. The festival, she said, was to show the visitors the best and most beautiful things in the region, which is why the festival was not placed in the usual locations, such as wineries, but in the beautiful, tourist, and cultural centres, castles, and museums. The last activity of the festival was announced.
