by eljko Suhadolnik
The Croatian region of Istria and Napa Valley plan an economic cooperation between winegrowers, producers of olive oil, restaurant owners and tourist organisations. The first
step in this direction occurred earlier this spring when a group of American and British tour operators visited the country. The owner of the California based enterprise Wine and Dine Events, Shelley Wolfe, struck by the local agricultural potential in agriculture for gourmet-specialities, proposed a cooperation of both regions in the field of food and wine tourism.
In late October, an American delegation of tour operators, representatives of Californian tourist organisations, restaurant owners and journalists came to visit Istria. The guests from the Napa Valley visited various producers of wine and olive oil, whose quality was said to rival that of Tuscany. The main event was held at the restaurant Zigante in the village of Livade in central Istria. Known for his dishes with truffles, which are found widely that part of Istria, owner Giancarlo Zigante is mentioned in the Guinness Book of Records for having found the world s largest truffle. Tod Humphries, owner of the Martini House in San Francisco, prepared dinner. Also present were Pat Kuleto, owner of several cult California restaurants, Terry Hall, communication director of the Association of Californian vintners in Napa Valley, Beth Carmichael, executive manager of the tourist office in Napa Valley, and Shelley Wolfe from the Wine and Dine Events.
