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WHY I LOVE DUBROVNIKNapisala/By Lidija CrnčevićObama’s Adviser on the Pelješac Wine RouteUživa li Vaša obitelj u Dubrovniku i pelješkimvinogradima kao i Vi?- Moja obitelj obožava dolaziti uDubrovnik i pokušavaju iznaći načinda ostanu ovdje što dulje. Ovoje prekrasno mjesto na kojemupostanete svjesni ljepote življenja.Kada Vas prijatelji pitaju čime Vas jeDubrovnik privukao, što kažete?- Mnogi me prijatelji pitaju – Zaštobaš Hrvatska? Odgovaram improtupitanjem jesu li ikada bili uHrvatskoj i preporukom da mi istopitanje postave nakon što ju posjete.Oni koji su poslušali moj savjet višenisu postavljali ovo pitanje jer su odgovorznali sami, moja opčinjenost Hrvatskompostala im je jasna. I njih je Hrvatskaosvojila svojom čistoćom, miromi nevjerojatnom ljepotom. Iako sam senakon tri godine mirovine morao vratitina posao, veseli me pomisao da ću zagodinu ili dvije moći opet provoditi petmjeseci godišnje u Dubrovniku i svakegodine proizvoditi kvalitetnije vino.Upon informing the Presidentof the United States, BarackObama, that he would acceptthe invitation to assume the role ofCEO of American International Group,the world’s major insurance corporationsuffering from a liquidity crisis, butonly after the grape harvesting in hisvineyard on the Pelješac Peninsula, theeyes of the world were on the south ofCroatia where Robert Benmosche livesseveral months a year. The longtimeCEO of Metropolitan Life InsuranceCompany was planning to spend hisretirement days in his beautiful house inDubrovnik, when the current AmericanPresident asked his help. Aware of thefact that his knowledge and experiencewere needed in time of crisis, RobertBenmosche agreed to return to activeservice. However, his Pelješac vineyardsand Zinfandel - the wine variety whichhe brought back to its Croatian home- remained highly positioned on hislist of life priorities. At the same timeBenmosche became the major promoterof Croatia as a country of top qualitywines. One of the world’s most influentialfinancial experts, he spends grapeharvesting time in his Pelješac vineyards,where his partner Marija Mrgudić, alocal wine producer, runs the businessfor him.- «I first came to Dubrovnik in 1987when I brought almost three hundredWall Street financial advisers to celebratetheir successful sales year. The tripwas a tremendous success and it left awarm place in my heart. I said then, oneday I hoped to return.»And you returned indeed, and decided tobuy a house in Dubrovnik? Why?- «In the late 1990s I learned that thegrape variety Zinfandel came fromCroatia. I then came to the idea tobring Zinfandel back to its home oneday, and, when I retire, to spend partof my time making Zinfandel wine inCroatia and living part of my retirementin Dubrovnik. Ten years later, in 2000I returned to look for vineyards and tobegin to invest in Croatia to help restorethe country’s heritage of being a worldleader in producing wonderful wines.»Did you start the business in Croatia then?- «I didn’t find vineyards at the time,but I did have the opportunity to investin a villa that could be a base of operationsfor my new business venture.When I retired in 2006, I started myfirst Zinfandel vineyard in Viganj on thePelješac Peninsula and also a small PlavacMali vineyard in Dingač 300 metresabove the sea. Both are doing great andour Zinfandel harvest had almost 2,000kilos of high quality grapes. Croatiais a great destination for vacationers,especially along the Dalmatian coast.What I hope we all do is a better job ofmaking people feel welcome and thatour service is as good as the beauty ofthe land and the people of Croatia. Wealso need to work together to produceworld class wines. This will require longterm investments so that we build forthe next generation. Some wine producersare already doing that, but we needso many more to join the effort. MareMrgudić and her family are leading thatimportant effort.»Does your family enjoy Dubrovnik and yourPelješac vineyards as much as you do?- « My family loves coming to visit eachyear and they keep wanting to find wayto stay longer. It is such a beautifulplace to stop and take time to appreciatelife.»What do you tell your friends when theyask: why Dubrovnik?- «Many friends ask why Dubrovnik.I then ask if they had ever been toCroatia, and they say no. I say then thatafter they visit, they can ask me again.But when they come to visit, they simplysay ‘got it’. It is just so clean, safe,peaceful and incredibly beautiful. WhileI have had to return to work after threeyears of retirement, I look forward in ayear or two to being able to again spendfive months a year living in Dubrovnikand making better wine every year.»scheWin t e r 2010/11Wel c o m e to Du b r o v n i k 23