A New Chapter for Graševina
Rueda–Graševina European Project launched at Graševina Croatica's En Primeur
This week in Zagreb, a new chapter in European wine collaboration officially began.
At a launch event held at Hotel Esplanade, Graševina Croatica—the regional organization representing winemakers of Slavonia and the Croatian Danube—announced the Rueda–Graševina project, a three-year European initiative developed in partnership with Spain’s D.O. Rueda.
Running from January 2026 through December 2028, the project establishes a framework for the long-term, strategic promotion of Graševina wines with Protected Designation of Origin in Croatia and D.O. Rueda wines in Spain. Centered on the theme “Quality and Food Safety,” the initiative is part of the EU AGRIP program and carries the slogan: “Products and traditions from Europe. Sharing it is living it.”
With a total value of €3.56 million, including €2.77 million in EU funding, the project is co-financed by the European Research Executive Agency (REA) and represents one of the most significant international wine-promotion collaborations ever undertaken by Croatian wine institutions.
Why this matters
For Croatia, the project marks an important step in elevating Graševina—its most widely planted white grape—on the European stage. According to Tomislav Panenić, Director of Graševina Croatica, institutional support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries was a key prerequisite, enabling regional winemakers to pursue a partnership of this scale and ambition.
From the Spanish perspective, Santiago Mora Poveda, Executive Director of D.O. Rueda, emphasized that shared values—wine culture, authenticity, and origin—form the foundation of the collaboration, positioning both regions strongly in today’s quality-driven wine market.
Strong institutional backing
The importance of the Rueda–Graševina project has broad institutional support. Dragan Kovačević, Vice President for Agriculture and Tourism at the Croatian Chamber of Economy, highlighted the project’s role in strengthening the international profile of Graševina while reinforcing Slavonia and the Croatian Danube as premium wine terroirs.
Similarly, Tugomir Majdak, State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, described the initiative as a rare and successful example of international cooperation at this level in Croatia—one that aligns perfectly with the EU AGRIP program’s goals of increasing visibility and competitiveness for European agri-food products worldwide.
Support was also expressed by José Ramón García Hernández, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to Croatia, and Hristo Hristov from the Representation of the European Commission in Croatia.
En Primeur: tasting the future of Graševina
The project launch coincided with En Primeur, Graševina Croatica’s annual first presentation of young wines. Nearly 500 guests—including distributors, sommeliers, journalists, and wine lovers—gathered to taste young Graševina wines from more than 30 wineries across Slavonia and the Croatian Danube region.
A highlight of the event was the masterclass “Graševina 2025 – En Primeur,” led by Kristijan Harjač, a three-time Croatian Sommelier Champion. Guided by his expertise, participants explored early expressions of the 2025 vintage, gaining insight into how Graševina reflects terroir across eastern Croatia.
