The sixth edition of the Wine and Bites Festival runs from September 11 to October 9, featuring seven stops at various locations across Virovitica-Podravina County, from Slatina to Suhopolje.
The sixth edition of the Slavonia and Podravina Wine and Bites Festival, wine not!?, will take place from September 11 to October 9, 2026, with each weekend bringing a new location, a different ambiance, and a unique wine experience. This was announced at a press conference in the Small Council Chamber of Virovitica-Podravina County, and the festival will showcase 25 wines from local producers, along with gastronomic bites and producers of strong spirits.
County Prefect Igor Andrović emphasized that over the past six years, the festival has become synonymous with fine wine, good fun, and discovering the county's potential. "In the last ten years or so, we have invested nearly 80 million euros in the restoration and development of our cultural and natural heritage, and events like this add value to those investments and give people another reason to visit," said Andrović, adding that the county is not just a stopover but a destination worth coming to and returning to.
The festival's first stop is Slatina, where on September 11, the Wine Story Under the Sequoia will be held at the EPIcentar Sequoia. Wine and bites will be served under the canopy of a giant sequoia tree. The following day, September 12, the festival moves to Virovitica's Kino Park, where, alongside tastings, there will be entertaining wine games.
In Slatinski Drenovac, on September 19, "A Drop and a Splash" will take place by the spring that gave the town its name, with traditional miller's bites accompanying the wines. Next is the Drava Story on September 25 in Noskovci, in the park of the former summer residence of Count Drašković, now the Drava Story Visitor Center, offering views of the Drava River.
On September 26, Grabrovnica hosts "Wine in the Spirit of Preradović's Heritage" at the birthplace of poet Petar Preradović. Gastronomic bites will be prepared by students and mentors from the Stjepan Sulimanec Secondary School. For nature enthusiasts, on October 3, there will be an all-day wine marathon, Wine & Walk Orahovica, with a 6.8-kilometer route through the Papuk wine-growing region, ending with dinner at Lake Orahovica.
The festival concludes on October 9 in Suhopolje, where the Evening of Aristocratic Pleasures will be held in the cellars of Janković Castle, featuring wines, local products, and music. For each of the seven events, the participation fee is 22 euros, and the number of participants is limited. Depending on the venue, visitor numbers may range from 40 to 50, while the marathon can accommodate up to a hundred. Tickets are available for purchase online on the website of the Virovitica-Podravina County Tourist Board.
Martina Jakelić, Director of the Virovitica-Podravina County Tourist Board, stressed that the goal was to create a premium tourism product that goes beyond classic wine events. "Visitors don't just come to the festival for wine tasting; through each event, they experience a different ambiance and the story of our region," said Jakelić, highlighting the synergy among all local tourist boards, winemakers, and family farms in the county.
Enologist Ivana Nemet, who has led the festival's tastings for all six years, explained the wine selection criteria. "We pay special attention to award-winning wines so that visitors have the opportunity to taste the best that our winemakers offer. This year's festival will feature 25 wines, with each location offering a different selection," said Nemet, adding that local producers of strong spirits are also being showcased for the second year.
