Croatian Premium Wine Imports Lana (Red shirt) and Matthew Ducharme (Black t-shirt) and NFCACF Mark (second middle with white shirt) and John Plavetic (white shirt on the first left) with Croatian Embassy officials: Luka Jušić (third), Goran Jutrisa (Middle with grey blazer), and Danijel Međan (blue blazer on the last right).
Washington, D.C. – On Saturday, September 13, Croatian Premium Wine Imports, Boston-based distributor of boutique Croatian wines, proudly participated in the European Union Delegation’s “State of the Arts Nights” at the Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building. The event hosted by the Hirshhorn Museum of Modern Art in Collaboration with the EU Delegation to the United States and several European embassies, celebrated transatlantic cultural exchange through music, cuisine, and artisanal products.
Representing Croatia’s rich winemaking tradition, Croatian Premium Wine Imports offered tastings of three distinct varieties:
- Delmati Biokovo Trbljan from Dubrovnik
- Black Island Dalmatian Dog Pošip from the island of Korčula
- Fakin Malvazija from Istria
Guests were invited to explore the unique regions of Dalmatia and the Adriatic coast through these indigenous wines, which were available for sampling and purchase. The Croatian stand was organized Lana Bagur Ducharme, her husband, Matthew Ducharme, National Federation of Croatian American Cultural Foundation (NFCACF) National Coordinator Mark Plavetic, and Mark’s father John Plavetic.
“We are here to promote Croatian culture through winemaking, and the geography that shapes each wine.” Said Mark. “Each bottle tells a story of heritage, land, and craftsmanship.”
The Croatian Embassy contributed cultural materials to the winetasting, including small Croatian flags, booklets on Croatian traveling and culture, licitar heart ornaments, and small lavender sachets as complementary gifts for guests. A VIP wine tasting was held for ambassadors, embassy officials, international delegates, and U.S. government officials, fostering dialogue around cultural diplomacy and regional collaboration.
EU Ambassador to the U.S., Jovita Neliupšienė, delivered a speech about the importance of US and EU collaboration through culture partnerships.
“State of the Arts Night is the perfect example of Europeans & Americans combining their resources to make magic, said Ambassador Neliupsiene. “[I’m] proud to showcase the EU as a patchwork of culture and talent”
Last evening, the EU State of the Arts Night at the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, D.C. was elevated by a splendid Croatian stand at the pop-up food market, expertly organized and manned by Croatian Premium Wine. Showcasing Croatia’s finest wines, the stand celebrated our rich… pic.twitter.com/PFSqFpmOly
— Croatia in the USA (@CroatiaInUSA) September 14, 2025
Croatian Premium Wine Import, based in Revere Massachusetts and founded by Lana’s sister Mirena Bagur, specializes in importing high quality Croatian wines, focusing on unique indigenous varieties, and boutique wineries from the Neretva Valley and the Dubrovnik-Split region. The company is committed to elevating Croatia’s global profile through its indigenous winemaking practices and promote the culture of Croatia in the United States.
VIP Wine tasting with Croatian Embassy officials, Goran Jutrisa and Danijel Međan, Croatian Premium Wine Imports, Lana Ducharme, and NFCACF Mark Plavetic
Mark Plavetić
National Coordinator, NFCACF
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