NeueHouse Madison Square in New York City was home to a private screening of Michaela Guzy’s episode of Oh The People You Meet’s documentary series featuring Istra, Croatia. Michaela Guzy is an American documentary filmmaker, travel journalist, media executive, producer, and on-air show host. Oh The People You Meet is an award-winning series where she features local people you could meet when traveling, including chefs, designers, artists, and scientists. For her episodes on Sleeping Around Safely with Istra, Croatia, and Oh The People You Meet with Michaela Guzy, she won an award at the 2024 International Tourism Film Festival in Africa.
Lucky two hundred people were invited and attended a screening in NeueHouse, an eclectic and historic Flatiron District space previously home to Tepper Galleries, a well-known Manhattan auction house for international artists and collectors in the 1930s. NeueHouse is described as “the vibrant energy of this historic space continues to serve as fertile ground for creativity and commerce.”
As people gathered around wines featured from Istrian winemaker Roxanich Winery, presented by Anna Vidučić, a New York-based sommelier with Croatian roots, and Croatian Premium Wine Imports, an importer and educator about Croatian wines in the US, and platers of food pairings donated by Arno Ristorante, owned by Istrian’s Milan Licul and Branko Turcinovic, it was soon forgotten what a cold night it was in New York City in mid-January as hearts and souls warmed up to the beauty of the Croatian region of Istra. It was indeed an experience of all senses.

Guests, mostly Americans and several Croatians, were given an overview of Croatian wine regions, descriptions of Istrian subregions impacting various expressions of indigenous Malvasia and Teran, and had an opportunity to taste awarded, high quality wines, reinforcing that Croatians take their food and wine very seriously. The great point was made that today’s wine and olive makers in Croatia not only follow centuries-old traditions, but as new generations enter the business, they learn and implement knowledge from all over the world. Roxanich wine, named after the historical name of a local family, was featured and would soon be joining other 120 wine labels from Croatia already in the US market as promised by the owner of Croatian Premium Wine Imports, Inc, Mirena Bagur.
Michaela Guzy introduced this episode of her award-winning show by saying, “Whether you are a truffle hunting foodie, a history buff, a biodynamic wine connoisseur, a dinophile, a hiker, biker or just want to sail in the crystal blue waters of the Adriatic sea – what will forever transform you is no doubt the people you meet in Croatia’s Tuscany – Istra.”
On a personal note, Michaela shared that although not Croatian, this country is very dear to her heart. She might not even be here today if it wasn’t for the kindness of Croatian people when her grandfather Buzz’s plane was shot down over Yugoslavia during WWII. Croatians protected him from being discovered by the Nazis and showered him with generosity and compassion, even putting their own lives in danger to help him.

The documentary features many prominent businessmen and women from Istra and their products, from one of six daughters of winemaker Roxanich to Chiavalon Olive maker, Karlic tartufi truffle hunting to chef cooking in the historic amphitheater in Pula. You get to meet a slew of interesting people who love what they do, and it shows through the quality of their products. The documentary also shows the extraordinary Korado Korlevic and Visnjan Observatory, a name in astronomy that has made many discoveries and distinguished works. Istria Tourist Board sponsored this documentary. Unfortunately, Director Denis Ivosevic, who was scheduled to attend this event, was stuck at the airport in Rome. Still, he is expected to continue his US trip and bring more of this beautiful heart-shaped peninsula to the United States. Michaela Guzy thanked Leila Kresic-Juric, the North American Director of the Croatian National Tourism Board, for the generous help and support, as well as Jasmine Golubic from the American Croatian Association of Professionals, who were both essential to her discovery of the beautiful Croatian region.
Host Michaela Guzy and her guests made the evening even more fun with trivia questions about Croatia and travel giveaways featuring great hotels in Istra. The evening continued with music and cocktails brought by the importer of Antique Pelinkovac, Croatian herbal liquor. Antique is a famous liquor made by Badel 1862, with the recipe and bottle packing intact from its original form dating over 160 years ago.
This event was a great kickoff to Croatia’s participation in the New York Travel & Adventure show on January 25 & 26th, 2025. There is much more to come and enjoy in New York from Croatia’s Tourist Board.










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