In honorem Dei et in honorem vini’, or ‘In the Glory of God and in the Glory of Wine’ is the main motto of the Croatian wine knights. Members of the Brotherhood of Croatian Wine Knights are not only renowned winemakers, vineyard owners, and enologists but also many public figures.
The main goal of the Brotherhood, established in 2006, is to bring wine culture closer.
– The Brotherhood of Croatian Wine Knights is the bearer of the fundamental program for promoting and nurturing wine culture and advocating for peace and love among all people of good will, regardless of national, religious, and party affiliation. As an association or individually, it supports social and charitable projects. It advocates for the dissemination of modern achievements in viticulture and winemaking science and practice, thus elevating the nobility of the chivalric wine order. In doing so, one must not forget the exalted moral chivalric message to every member of the Brotherhood: ‘When you overcome all your envy, you will become a true man – a knight’ – said Nikola Mirošević, president of the Brotherhood and professor at the Faculty of Agriculture.
The first president of the Brotherhood was entrepreneur and renowned winemaker Ante Ledić, who was elected as the first president in 2006, four years after the European Chivalric Council granted permission for the establishment of the Croatian branch. From the initial four members (Ledić, Ivan Enjingi, Milorad Zoričić, and Josip Bratulić), the Brotherhood now has 150 members and is divided into chivalric regions for better and easier cooperation.
– We started discussing the establishment of the chivalric order in 1993 at the First Days of Wine, but it took time for our wishes to be realized. We started with the four of us and have grown every year. This year we will accept new members in Blato on the island of Korčula and in Kastav. It should be noted that we initially had four knights, and today there are 17. By the end of the year, we will have four more – proudly emphasizes Ledić.
Any individual can become a member of the Brotherhood, but membership must be proposed by one of the members (godfather). All members are obliged to follow high ethical principles in their professional lives and nurture noble interpersonal relationships in accordance with the rules of the chivalric society. After someone is proposed for membership, they become an apprentice, followed by a judge, advisor, and the final stage – knight.
– Admission to membership is a particularly solemn moment, as is everything related to the wine knights. Wine is a divine product, and we must treat it with great respect, as befits. All members are aware of the responsibility that membership carries, and it is a great privilege for everyone – said Ivan Enjingi.
The president is elected for a four-year term and cannot be re-elected so that everyone who wishes can lead this prestigious order. Since the goal is the exchange of experiences and mutual assistance, they are divided into several chivalric tables for easier communication.
– We meet several times a year at chivalric ceremonies in the country and abroad. We also gather at wine chivalric tables established by viticultural regions. The chivalric council meets every month or as needed. This month, a chivalric ball will be held, which we are organizing on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Brotherhood’s establishment – announced Mirošević.
The wine chivalric order does not seek any material gain but advocates for the promotion of wine and table culture. It is closely connected with the Church, so every ceremony is held in a church building. Among the members is Monsignor Josip Mrzljak, and it should be noted that the order was founded in the Zagreb church of St. Mother of Freedom.
– Every gathering of ours must be a celebration that wine deserves. Then we wear ceremonial robes, and the knights also wear heavy chains, which we are very proud of. We must not forget that the Wine Chivalric Order originated from the ecclesiastical order, which is why we are very connected to the Church – emphasized knight Stjepan Šafran.
– In our society, there are distinguished people, some of whom are not closely connected with the wine profession. These are successful people in their businesses who follow our high ethical principles and promote and spread wine culture on traditional Christian foundations from the 15th century – explained Franjo Francem, one of the most prominent Croatian enologists.
Indeed, among the members of the Brotherhood are people from business, among whom the most notable is Anton Kovačev, president of the Management Board of HBOR.
At European meetings, fellow knights have the opportunity to get to know all Croatian wine varieties and are always delighted with the quality obtained. Promotion is one of the tasks that the wine knights have set for themselves.
– At the First Wine Days, we had 50 labels and barely gathered. Now in Croatia, we have several thousand labels and producers who respect the diversity of our region. We are a country with great potential due to diversity. In global terms, our production is not large, but we are among the best in quality, but we are not yet utilizing that enough; we need to work on it. At our wine meetings, we give the best we can, but there is still room for improvement – believes Ante Ledić.
In addition to promoting outside the country, members are intensively educating the youth about the importance of continuing the Croatian wine tradition. Precisely for this reason, good wine is increasingly valued in Croatia, rather than various ‘chemicals’.
– During my working life, I contributed significantly to the development of viticulture and winemaking in Croatia and the reputation of the Brotherhood. By participating in many wine events in the country and abroad, I promoted the reputation of our country and our beloved viticulture and winemaking, existential branches of many of our wine-growing areas in coastal and continental Croatia for centuries – said Mirošević.
The wine order is particularly widespread in Austria and Hungary and has approximately four thousand members. Among them are prominent statesmen, members of parliament, archbishops, and successful business people.
– We directly promote Croatian wine culture to a few, but they are exceptionally influential people who can give us additional publicity. In Croatia, we do not do enough to affirm our producers and offer that to foreigners. It is good that we do not have mass production because we would lose the quality we have had so far. Today, control is much greater, and it is precisely quality that elevates us above others. If I affirm Croatian producers in the foreign market, we will achieve one of the greatest goals – emphasized Ledić.
However, some members expected more from the promotion, which has underperformed in some countries with wine chivalric orders, which is why they are calling for even stronger activity from the most prominent members to help clear the way to store shelves.
– We export a lot, but very little to Austria, one of the stronger members of this order. We could still work on those activities. Perhaps one of the reasons why the promotion was not better is the narrow circle of people who cannot help us export more. Nevertheless, we must turn to the main tenets of the Wine Chivalric Order, nurturing wine culture. The rest will come with persistence and diligent work – concluded Enjingi.
Croatian wine knights are relatively young, but organizationally they do not lag behind more experienced foreign orders. The order is excellently organized, as are its ceremonies. However, its members are also aware that they are not sufficiently known in public, which they will have to change in the next period if they want their message about moderate enjoyment of all wine products to be heard far and wide.
