Manuela Plohl's formal wine education began at Wine Academy Croatia, where she completed all three WSET levels, before continuing her studies at Wine Academy Austria. There, she obtained the WSET Diploma and earned the title of Weinakademiker, completing one of the highest levels of wine education in an international context. This educational journey has shaped her approach to wine—analytical yet open to interpretation, grounded in knowledge and academic methodology, while remaining closely connected to sensory experience.
Having once been a student and now an educator at Wine Academy Croatia, she is actively involved in delivering WSET programmes, working with participants of varying levels of knowledge and experience. Alongside her educational work, she develops projects through her own company, ZaraVino, where she works as a consultant, lecturer, and writer, collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders across the wine and tourism sectors. She is also an international wine judge and has participated in numerous professional tastings abroad, further expanding her insight into global wine styles and standards of quality.
Wineries in competition for this year's Vicious Cat Wine Champion title are Jarc Homestead, Emil Vino, MARO Cellar, Vino Kovačič and Vina Polanec.
Complete wine program can be found here.
