The country known for its natural beauty is also a place where you can taste some of the world's best wines! Read on to find out which wines to try if you find yourself in Croatia.
Although Croatia is relatively small compared to many other wine countries, it offers many different and unique grapes that help create well-known, awarded wines! The vineyards are located throughout Croatia, from the northern plains to the southern slopes, and we will introduce you to some of the most stunning ones.
Golden wine of Baranja
In wonderful Baranja, there is a hill called Banska kosa. Here you can find beautiful vineyards famous for graševina — one of the most popular wines in Croatia. Apart from this one, there are many more vineyards and wine cellars in Baranja, where you can come to learn about the winemaking process behind the iconic Graševina!
Magical Istrian vineyards
Anyone who once walked through the Istrian vineyards and tasted their wine surely returned once again! This most enchanting and largest peninsula in Croatia is home to some of the most special Croatian vineyards. Thanks to the unique land, many sought-after and outstanding wines are made here. So, if you have already thought about visiting Istria, believe us — Istrian wine is another reason why you should do it!
Beauty on the slopes of Pelješac
Croatia’s second largest peninsula is located in southern Dalmatia, not far from the city of Dubrovnik. Along with the untouched nature and beaches, there is Dingač, a popular vineyard region. What is unique about these vineyards is that they are planted on a slope of 45 degrees, they are located by the sea and are surrounded by rocks. The sea, sun, and rocks create special conditions that result in widely recognised wine.
Kutjevo vineyards
One of the largest and oldest Croatian vineyards is located in Kutjevo. This is a place where people come to enjoy the beauty of the vineyard, but also to taste awarded Slavonian wines in extensive wine cellars. One of the most visited cellars dates back to 1232, which makes it one of the oldest wine cellars in Southeast Europe.
Now we can move from the vineyards to the more important thing — wine! It’s time to get to know some of the most remarkable Croatian wines that have delighted people worldwide. This is our top 5!
Plavac mali
One of the most popular, and according to many, the best Croatian red wine is Plavac Mali. This type of wine is associated with Dalmatia, especially the islands. One of the places where this treasure is created is the Pelješac peninsula, which we talked about at the beginning of our blog. What is the secret to a perfect taste? Many believe that the reasons are the conditions in which the grapes grow. The combination of steep slopes, rocks, sun, and sea leads to perfection in a bottle that you simply must try if you find yourself in Croatia, especially in Dalmatia.
Graševina
This fresh and dry wine is most often produced in continental Croatia, especially in Baranja. Although it goes perfectly with holiday dishes,a lot of people, especially Slavonians, like to make gemišt — a combination of white wine and sparkling water! If you ever visit Slavonia, you will either have the opportunity to try the mixed drink, or enjoy the full taste of graševina.
Malvazija
This Istrian wine has become the best-selling restaurant wine in Croatia, because it goes perfectly with many dishes! Apart from being very high quality, it is also one of the few white wines that age well. That’s why you can buy two types of Malvasia in stores: young Malvasia and one that is at least three years old.
Pošip
Another white wine is placed on our most recognised Croatian wines list. It’s called Pošip. Like Plavac mali, it’s grown in the very south of Croatia, more precisely on the island of Korčula. There are many writings about the history of this variety. However, it’s assumed that it was brought to Korčula by sailors who worked in the East. Perhaps the most exciting thing is that Pošip is the first Croatian white wine with a protected geographical origin, joining the world’s greatest white varieties.
Grk
Korčula is an island with perfect conditions for growing grapes, and that’s shown by another type of wine that has found its place on our list. Grk is a type of white wine produced in the village of Lumbarda, and what makes it recognisable is the unique golden color. It goes perfectly with cold appetisers and fish dishes, which is why it’s on the menu of almost all restaurants throughout Dalmatia.
Although small, Croatia has an extensive and rich wine tradition. Besides these five types of wine, many others are recognized globally, won many awards, and became part of Croatian everyday life. Except enjoying the richness of wine tastes, you can invest your time see some of the special wine cellars on your visit to Croatia. There, you can learn a lot about the process of wine production. Also, if you’re a skilled diver, you can visit the Croatian Underwater Wine Cellar, where you will learn how the sea affects the maturation of wine. Finally, if you simply want to enjoy wine tasting tours, Croatia is the perfect place for you, and every wine lover can confirm that!