Karin Rupena Perdec

Karin Rupena Perdec hosts an exclusive wine & food pairing experience, combining carefully selected Istrian wines with creative tapas across six thoughtfully curated courses, offering guests an authentic gastronomic journey through the flavours of Istria.

Karin Rupena Perdec is one of Croatia's most respected sommeliers and the first female sommelier from Istria, with extensive experience in gastronomy, wine culture, and hospitality. Throughout her career, she has been part of the renowned Valsabbion team, managed the Tinja wine bar, and led Restaurant La Grisa in Bale, developing a distinctive approach to food and wine pairing.

Today, she is an active educator, a member of Vinistra's wine judging panels, and a lecturer for the Croatian Sommelier Club, where she shares her expertise with future generations of hospitality professionals. She is particularly passionate about exploring Istria's terroir, indigenous grape varieties, and the creative connection between food and wine.

Each of the six courses is carefully designed to highlight the character of the selected wines and local ingredients, creating an experience that blends outstanding gastronomy, wine culture, and the stories of Istria. Karin believes that great food and wine pairing is far more than a tasting-it is an experience that enhances every bite and every sip.