Novi Vinodolski once again came alive last weekend with the spirit of wine, tradition, music and competition. The 23rd edition of the Rose of Vinodol , one of Kvarner’s most recognizable cultural and tourism events, has come to an end. For more than two decades, the event has preserved and showcased the heritage of the Vinodol region. Although this year’s program was adjusted due to the forecast of bad weather, the event still attracted numerous visitors and offered a unique blend of tradition, entertainment, gastronomy and wine culture.

Nine young women took part in this year’s competition: Anita Šarar, Julija Cetina, Nika Tatalović, Dora Kabalin, Ružica Orešković, Kristina Cerović, Tara Zurak, Ana Kovačević and Veronika Ligatić.

The competition began on Saturday in the Old Town of Novi Vinodolski, where the contestants competed in disciplines inspired by life in Vinodol in times gone by. The girls demonstrated skill, resourcefulness and knowledge, while a large audience followed the competition and supported them with applause and cheering.

Alongside the competition, the Rose of Vinodol offered a variety of other activities. Traditional crafts and skills were presented at Vinodol Statute Square, while Frankopan Square hosted the Wine Festival, featuring wine producers from different wine-growing regions of Croatia. The evening’s musical program featured Petar Dragojević and Trio Mirakul, adding to the lively atmosphere in the town center.

The grand finale took place on Sunday in the vineyards of Pavlomir Winery, where the contestants faced the final challenges, including handling a traditional brenta and crushing grapes by hand and foot. After the points from all the competitions were added up, the new Ružica Vinodola was announced.

This year’s title went to – Rose. The winner of the 23rd edition was Ružica Orešković from Novi Vinodolski, who earned the highest number of points after eight competition disciplines. Ana Kovačević was named first runner-up, while Nika Tatalović became second runner-up. Special awards for charm went to Dora Kabalin, chosen by the jury and contestants, and Tara Zurak, according to the judges. Along with the title, the new Ružica also won a valuable prize – a cruise along the Adriatic for two.

The finale at Pavlomir was accompanied by a rich gastronomic offering, excellent wines and a musical performance by the band Insula, bringing another edition of the event to a cheerful and relaxed close.

Once again, the Rose of Vinodol confirmed what makes it so special – through competition, traditional crafts, wine, gastronomy and music, it connects the past with the present and brings the rich heritage of the Vinodol region closer to visitors. An additional highlight of this year’s edition was that it was filmed for the new season of the TV series “Naše male fešte” (“Our Little Celebrations”), which will be broadcast on HRT.

Another Ružica Vinodola has come to an end, but the story of tradition, wine and the young women who preserve them year after year continues.

The organizers of the Rose of Vinodol are the Tourist Board of Novi Vinodolski and the Tourist Board of the Vinodol Municipality, together with the City of Novi Vinodolski, Vinodol Municipality, Cultural Center of the City of Novi Vinodolski, Pavlomir Winery, the Association of Friends of Grapes and Wine “Ružica Vinodola”, the Kvarner Wines Association, KUD Ilija Dorčić and the Čakavian Assembly Novljansko kolo. The event was supported by the Tourist Board of Kvarner and the Croatian National Tourist Board. Sponsors include the tourist agency Katarina Line, Adria Mare Travel Agency, Bartelo Mali, Skipper, API Kvarner, Leut Souvenir Gallery, Zola Flower Atelier and Pavlomir Winery.