Today, Vinodol Ružica brings together girls who compete for the title of the same name in a three-day spectacle through nine interesting disciplines: from working in the vineyard, through household skills to pouring and presenting wine. The overture was on Friday, August 14, in Bribir.
Winemaking skills in Pavlomir
This year's candidates for the title of Ružica introduced themselves to the audience and competed in making macarons. The main competition program begins on Thursday, August 20, in the vineyards of the Pavlomir Wine House, where the candidates will demonstrate their winemaking skills. The atmosphere will be completed by Antonio Krištofić and the Nebuloza Trio, and there will be top-quality wines with a rich gastronomic offer.
On Friday, the event moves to the picturesque Old Town of Novi Vinodolski, where the candidates will compete in household tasks, accompanied by the musical accompaniment of the Trio Nebuloza. At the same time, the audience will be entertained by the group Insula on the Korzo hrvatskih branitelja. The grand finale will be on Saturday, August 22, also in the Old Town.
Adriatic Cruise and Weekend in Rovinj
Accompanied by the Trio Arko, the candidates will compete in disciplines related to pouring and presenting wine, followed by the announcement of the 2026 Vinodol Ružica, her companions and the most likeable Ružica. The winner will receive valuable prizes: a cruise on the Adriatic for two and an autumn weekend in Rovinj. During the final evening, Petar Dragojević and the Trio Mirakul will perform, and the program will be hosted by Borna Šmer throughout all three days of the competition.
On Friday and Saturday, the Frankopan Square will host the Wine Festival, where visitors will have the opportunity to taste top-quality wines from various Croatian wine-growing regions and discover new wine stories. They will also be able to taste the Novljanski pijat, created especially for this occasion, which brings authentic flavors of the Novljan region to local foods.
Ancient games and traditional skills
This year, the Vinodol Law Square will place a special emphasis on preserving tradition through presentations of old crafts and a fair of local products. Visitors will be able to learn about basketry, blacksmithing, herbalism, making ceramics using the raku technique, wood carving, mosaic, wool felting, čunčanje, ancient games and numerous other traditional skills that testify to the rich heritage of Vinodol.
The Vinodol Ružica proves year after year that tradition can be attractive, colorful and contemporary. The organizers are the Novi Vinodolski Tourist Association and the Vinodolski Municipality Tourist Association, and the co-organizers are the City of Novi Vinodolski, the Municipality of Vinodolski, the Cultural Center of the City of Novi Vinodolski, the Pavlomir Wine House, the Vinodol Ružica Grape and Wine Friends Association, the Kvarner Wine Association, the Ilija Dorčić Cultural Association and the Novljansko kolo Chakavian Assembly Chair.
They don't preserve history, but live it again
The event, which is not only preserved from oblivion but also lives again, was supported by the Kvarner Tourist Board and the Croatian Tourist Board. The sponsors are Katarina Line, Adria Mare Travel Agency, Bartelo Mali, Skipper, API Kvarner, Leut Souvenir Gallery, Zola Flower Studio and Pavlomir Wine House.
