The 29th Blue Lagoon Croatia Open Umag will be accompanied by the Istria Gourmet Festival.
In its 29 years, the popular tennis tournament Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag has repeatedly justified its reputation of the best tennis tournament in this region. In addition to the performances of top tennis players and a splendid party programme, the locals and their guests are able to enjoy superior delicacies as well as numerous events which are part of the Istrian Gourmet Festival.
Istria, as well as the whole Croatia, is proud that the tennis tournament, the rich culinary offer and the excellent party programme at Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag are enjoyed every year by around 100,000 guests from all over the world. This year, from 13 to 22 July, Istrian delicacies will be tasted at ten venues, including the one presented by Michelin.
In addition to the Zigante and Naša Kužina restaurants, which traditionally participate in the Istria Gourmet Festival, Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag will also welcome RougeMarin and three Michelin-recommended restaurants: Badi, San Rocco, and Pergola.
At a press conference in Zagreb, Ivan Badurina from Badi, Teo Fernetich from San Rocco, Fabricio Vežnaver from Pergola, Zdravko Tomšić, the menu creator at Naša Kužina, Damir Modrušan from Zigante, and Marin Medak from RougeMarin presented the dishes that will be offered to guests in Umag.
“I am particularly pleased that, for the first time at Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag, we will present the Michelin corner. Everyone already knows that Istria, as the strongest wining and dining region in Croatia, has received its own Michelin guide. Eight of the selected restaurants are located in the cluster of northwest Istria, and four will take part in the tournament. There will also be presentation venues with the best Istrian wines and the best olive oils in the world. Istria has been proclaimed the best olive-growing region in the world for the second time, and the world's best olive oil comes from Umag. I think all this is enough to draw your interest in order to find out why the tourist pre- and post-season in Umag are coloured by wine and olive oil,” said Milovan Popović, the director of the Umag Tourist Board.
Good food is always accompanied by good wines, which has been confirmed by Michelin, which has given its recommendation to 16 Istrian wines. Ten of them will be tasted as part of the "Hidden Charms of Istrian Wines" programme, led by well-known Croatian sommelier Emil Perdec.
“We are going to present 30 winemakers and we are extremely honoured that, out of 16 Istrian wines with Michelin's recommendation, the tournament will be attended by ten of them. At wine tasting events "Hidden Charms of Istrian Wines", which I have been a part of since 2015, we introduce three different wines each night. On the last day, just before the tennis finals, we choose the best among the best and announce the ATP wine of the year,” said sommelier Emil Perdec.
Arlen Brozić, the director of the tournament's executive committee, thanked all the sponsors which enabled the Istria Gourmet Festival to be held.
Find out more about the entire programme on the official tournament website.
