Ilok, Croatia, 7 October 2026.
From tomorrow, Thursday 8 October, until Sunday 11 October, the historic wine town of Ilok on the Danube will host experts, winemakers, tourism professionals and decision-makers from across Europe. They are coming for the International Conference “The European Wine Circle as a Driver of Tourism Development”, the General Assembly of the Iter Vitis Cultural Route and the ITER VITIS AWARD ceremony.
The event is hosted locally by the Croatian Association for Tourism and Rural Development “The Village Membership Club” , whose support has been key to bringing the wider Iter Vitis family to one of Croatia’s best-known wine destinations. Its aim is to share knowledge, discuss the main challenges facing the sector, and build new connections in wine and rural tourism.
Two days of conference sessions at Hotel Dunav
The conference programme will take place at Hotel Dunav in Ilok on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 October.
On Friday, the program includes:
- a panel on the Iter Vitis European wine route: cross-border knowledge transfer and good practice;
- a lecture and panel on sustainable viticulture and wine tourism in a changing climate;
- a round table on young people and women as drivers of change in rural wine tourism.
On Saturday, the programme continues with:
- a panel on modernising AKIS (Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems) and digital tools for contemporary wine tourism;
- a workshop on the added value of the LEADER approach in developing wine roads.
At the same time Iter Vitis Federation members will meet for the General Assembly of the Iter Vitis European Cultural Route. .
Dunav Wine Festival and the ITER VITIS AWARD
The ceremonial highlight comes on Friday evening, 9 October, at the Principovac country estate. The Dunav Wine Festival opens in the evening. It is followed by the ITER VITIS AWARD ceremony, which recognises outstanding contributions to wine culture and wine tourism along the route. Networking and a cultural programme complete the evening.
Ilok’s wine heritage up close
Alongside the working sessions, participants will get to know Ilok and its wine stories. The programme includes:
- a guided tour of the historic town centre;
- a welcome reception;
- a tour with tastings on Saturday afternoon ;
- a closing dinner.
Local hosts and supporters
The event is organised with the support of our local hosts, the Croatian Association for Tourism and Rural Development “The Village Membership Club” and City of Ilok. Their commitment to rural development and to promoting the Ilok wine region made it possible to bring this international gathering to the banks of the Danube.
The event is part of the Sunflower Network, co-financed by the Croatian Ministry of Tourism. It also contributes to the Annual Action Plan of the National Common Agricultural Policy Network and is co-financed by the European Union and the Croatian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.