WineOs by Graševina Croatica Program Announced
The weekend of January 16 and 17 in Osijek is all about wine
From the first godfather, Miroslav Čabraja, the “wine key”—the symbol of godfatherhood of the 11th edition of WineOS by Graševina Croatica—has been handed over to one of this year’s godmothers, Marija Ham, officially marking the start of the countdown to the largest wine event in eastern Croatia. Alongside Marija Ham, a professor at the Faculty of Economics, this year’s godmothers also include actress Ivana Soldo Čabraja and photographer and artist Marina Vojnović.
The ceremonial handover of the wine key took place at the Economic Center of Osijek-Baranja County, where final preparations are underway for the wine fair that opens its doors on Friday, January 16, at 3:00 p.m. The gathering with journalists also served as an opportunity to present the program, partners, and content that have made WineOS an unmissable meeting place for wine, gastronomy, and people for eleven years.
The WineOS by Graševina Croatica Wine, Delicacies, and Pleasant Living Fair will be held on January 16 and 17, 2026, with strong support from Osijek-Baranja County and the City of Osijek. Over the years, the event has grown into the most significant wine fair in eastern Croatia and symbolically opens the new wine year.
“I congratulate the organizers on the 11th edition of WineOS and all the exhibitors and winemakers presenting at the fair. WineOS has contributed significantly to the development of eno-gastro tourism in Osijek-Baranja County for years and confirms the great potential of our vineyards. I invite all citizens to visit the Economic Center on Friday or Saturday and taste the best that the local wine scene has to offer,” said Goran Ivanović, Deputy Prefect of Osijek-Baranja County.
“The City of Osijek proudly supports the 11th edition of WineOS, an event that has become a recognizable symbol of Osijek as the center of a wine and hedonistic region. It successfully combines wine, gastronomy, and the economy, while further strengthening the city’s tourism offer,” said Anamarija Matić Kardoš, Head of the Department for Economy and EU Funds.
That WineOS is not only a fair but also a strong educational platform was emphasized by Hrvoje Hefer, Director of HAPIH, who pointed out that Croatian winemakers are placing increasing emphasis on quality, with 76 percent of wines on the market carrying a protected designation of origin.
This year, experts from HAPIH’s Center for Viticulture, Winemaking, and Oil Production will guide visitors through proper wine tasting techniques, the phases of sensory evaluation, and key elements to observe when tasting wine. Visitors will also be able to test their newly acquired knowledge in wine competitions, competing for attractive prizes.
In cooperation with the Osijek-Baranja Police Department, visitors will have the opportunity to voluntarily take a breathalyzer test after wine tasting—without pressure or sanctions—with an emphasis on prevention, education, and awareness rather than control.
In addition to Osijek-Baranja County, the City of Osijek, HAPIH, and the Osijek-Baranja Police Department, the fair is organized in partnership with OTP Bank, Maya Water, Podravka, the company Filir, the Tourist Boards of the City of Osijek and Osijek-Baranja County, the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds, and the Croatian Chamber of Commerce.
“On behalf of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, I congratulate the organizers on the 11th edition of WineOS, an event that has long been one of the most important wine events in Croatia and the wider region. At a time of declining vineyard areas, wine production, and the number of winemakers, it is crucial to continue supporting winemaking and viticulture due to their key role in eno-gastronomy and tourism. The Croatian Chamber of Commerce will continue to encourage and promote domestic wine production and Croatian winemakers,” said Igor Mikulić of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce.
A special contribution to the educational program is also provided by the Croatian Sommelier Club. Masterclasses led by Mario Meštrović and Darko Lugarić are being prepared, along with professionally guided wine tours of the fair conducted by Ines Matić Matešković, Jana Košćec, and Alen Vukić. The tours take place every full hour from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., with registration available exclusively at the Croatian Sommelier Club stand.
Speaking on behalf of the fair’s co-organizer, the Graševina Croatica Winemakers’ Association, President Tomislav Panenić emphasized that as many as 32 member winemakers will be presenting at this year’s event.
“This confirms the strength and unity of the local wine scene. While there is still much work ahead in strengthening both the association and the fair itself, gatherings like this show how important it is to act together. Wine never stands alone—it is accompanied by culture, gastronomy, and lifestyle. Despite the challenges facing winemaking today, we have never had better wines, and WineOS is the right place to showcase this diversity and quality together,” said Panenić.
The program of this year’s fair was presented by Boris Ocić, President of the Decanter Association, who highlighted that WineOS brings together more than 150 exhibitors across 2,800 square meters, featuring more than 800 wine and distillate labels. Visitors will be able to taste wines from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Hungary, North Macedonia, Slovenia, Italy, Moldova, Argentina, France, and Spain.
“Two dynamic and high-quality days await us, with a rich selection of wines, distillates, food, and the participation of winemakers, distributors, and associations. This year, we are placing special emphasis on added value for exhibitors through a unified VIP and B2B program, enabling better networking with hotels, restaurants, distributors, and retailers. We are continuing with proven content such as the masterclasses and the popular eno-gastro quiz hosted by Dean Kotiga—because good things are worth repeating,” added Ocić.
The wine key has been handed over, the program is ready, and Osijek is once again becoming the center of the wine story. See you at WineOS on January 16 and 17, 2026, at the Economic Center of Osijek-Baranja County.