He was the first private winemaker in Croatia to bottle wine in 1972 in the former state. He became the first organic producer in the region in 1985, respecting nature in both vineyard and cellar even in the years when he did not have organic certification on his labels. He was also the first private producer whose wines were included on the wine list of the legendary Esplanade Hotel in Zagreb, and the first Croatian winemaker to receive major international wine recognition.
His Venje 1998 was named the best white wine in the under-£10 category at the first Decanter tasting in 2004, which has since become one of the world’s most important wine competitions. Due to this blend of Graševina, Rhine Riesling, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon, and Traminer from the vineyard that gives the wine its name, as well as his Graševina 2002 which scored 95 points at the same tasting, Decanter published an article titled “Thank God for Croatian white wines”.
Ivan Enjingi turned 86 on 17 May 2026. He took over the family vineyards in 1957 with 2,000 vines. His great-grandfather Koloman planted the first vines in 1890. Today, he manages around 60 hectares of vineyards in Venje, Hrnjevac, and Mitrovac, among the best positions in the Kutjevo wine region, and produces around twenty different wines, among which it is not easy to choose the best. Venje 2006, likely the best wine he has ever made, was released for sale in May 2018.
At a time when the wine industry favors fresh and light wines for quick consumption, Enjingi follows a different path. He continues to allow grapes to fully ripen on the vine, which is why almost all his wines are late harvest or selected berry harvest wines. Thanks to this, and his exceptional vineyard sites, his white wines are typically deep golden in color, with rich aromas and a full, powerful, and long-lasting taste.
Many cannot believe that his Traminer 2006 reached 19.2% alcohol. “No one in the world has achieved such alcohol levels in Traminer with natural yeasts,” he said calmly. Alcohol alone does not make a wine exceptional, but this Traminer is harmonious and part of the great Venje 2006. Harmony is the most important characteristic of wine, just like in music, which Ivan deeply loves.
“In autumn it is beautiful to be in Požega and drink at Ivo Enjingi’s. To drink or not to drink, that is the question. To live to a hundred or leave young…” sang the band Gazde. Composer Davor Bobić wrote the “Enjingi Wine Symphony”, performed in May 2013 at the Croatian National Theatre in Varaždin with the Croatian Radiotelevision Tamburitza Orchestra. The symphony has four movements, each named after a wine.
The first movement is “Wine Cellar – Rhine Riesling,” describing his first encounter with Enjingi. The second is “Wine Waltz – Graševina,” and the third, “Archive Slavonica,” inspired by his wine bank. The final movement is “Finale – Venje,” dedicated to Venje 2006. The first Venje 1998, awarded in London, was never released for sale but can still be tasted in his cellar. He also produces Venje Red from Merlot, Zweigelt, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Frankovka.
Ivica also produces wines from each variety in both Venje vineyards. In total, there are 13 labels currently in regular distribution, and many more vintages available at the winery near Kutjevo. Some wines cannot even be purchased there, but those who manage to charm Enjingi—who is known as a great charmer himself—may be gifted a special bottle. And a final anecdote: during the time of the “zero promille” law under Sanader, Enjingi protested by drinking only water.
