Organized by the Association of Winemakers and Vinegrowers of Ljubuški, the third Trnjak Fest concluded Saturday in Ljubuški.

TRNJAK FEST 2025 HELD IN LJUBUSKI

The final evening of the three-day Trnjak Fest program, the third edition of this unique event dedicated to Trnjak – a protected indigenous red grape variety originating from Herzegovina and the Dalmatian hinterland, was held in this Herzegovinian town on Saturday, reports Brotnjo.info.

Federal Minister of Tourism, Nasiha Pozder, emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina is increasingly recognized by foreign tourists as a hidden gem of Europe, and that festivals like Trnjak Fest play a significant role in promoting the country.

"I am glad to see a park full of locals and guests here in Ljubuški. I believe that tasting our wines and discussing what we have – which is still a hidden gem of this part of the world – will help us relax, have fun, and send a good message to everyone who will visit us this summer. And it seems that many are already coming," said the minister.

She also added that Bosnia and Herzegovina has a rich offer of content for foreign guests.

"I believe that maintaining quality, service, and offer is actually the best advertisement. This year, for example, some of our winemakers received awards at Decanter, were declared the best – and that is a fact that speaks in favor of Bosnia and Herzegovina being a destination worth visiting," said Pozder.

Zdenko Milas, president of the Association of Winemakers and Vinegrowers of Ljubuški and one of the festival organizers, said that this is the third edition of Trnjak Fest, realized in cooperation with the associations of winemakers from Vrgorac and Imotski, regions where Trnjak is also traditionally grown.

"We conceived Trnjak Fest to showcase the potential of a variety that has long been neglected through one festival. Today it is shown that Trnjak, just like Blatina, can give extraordinary results," said Milas.

The festival was attended by 27 winemakers and 14 representatives of the gastro scene, and the three-day program also included cultural and educational content.

"On the first day, we visited Roman sites: Mogorjelo near Čapljina, Narona near Metković, and Gračina in Ljubuški, where we told the story of the arrival of wine in our regions following the Roman heritage. On the second day, we visited some winemakers and wineries from Herzegovina, Vrgorac, and Imotski, and we are closing the festival here in Ljubuški tonight," explained Milas.

Veronika Pinjuh, acting director of the Tourist Board of the City of Ljubuški, emphasized that Trnjak Fest represents another important event in a series of manifestations organized in the Ljubuški area, which is of great importance to the local community.

"This festival is special because it reflects the effort and work of the entire community, especially our Association of Winemakers and Vinegrowers of Ljubuški. Every year we express our praise for their efforts, and Trnjak Fest is precisely the promotion of their work, but also of the whole of Ljubuški," concluded Pinjuh.

Photos by Brotnjo.info