Vinarija Lončar

Vladimira Nazora 118, 32236 Ilok, Croatia

Wines

4 PHOTOS

Winery presentation by Gault&Millau

The labels of the Lončar Winery are adorned with deer antlers, a reflection of owner Žarko Lončar’s deep passion for hunting and the natural world. This connection to nature ultimately inspired the forestry engineer to dedicate himself to viticulture and winemaking in 1990. The early years were far from easy. War and displacement interrupted his work, and upon returning to Ilok in 1998, he was forced to start again from scratch. He painstakingly restored his vineyards, planted new vines, and initially sold his grapes to the renowned Iločki Podrumi winery. In 2012, together with his wife Irjana, he took a decisive step forward and began producing his own wines - achieving remarkable success from the very beginning, with their first Graševina already reaching premium quality. Today, the family cultivates around three hectares of vineyards on the Jenovo site, where Graševina, Green Silvaner, and Traminer dominate, alongside Frankovka, which is also used to produce a fresh rosé. Their annual production totals approximately 20,000 liters. The winery and its modern cellar are located in Ilok, where visitors can enjoy a charming rustic tasting room for forty guests. Žarko’s son Josip, who holds a master’s degree in economics, plays a key role in the business. Leaving behind a secure professional career, he chose to devote himself to winemaking, proudly continuing the family tradition.