Croatian wine
Encyclopedia
Croatian wine has a history dating back to the Ancient Greek
settlers, and their wine production
on the southern Dalmatia
n islands of Vis
, Hvar
and Korčula
some 2,500 years ago. Like other old world wine
producers, many traditional grape varieties still survive in Croatia, perfectly suited to their local wine hills. Modern wine-production methods have taken over in the larger wineries, and EU-style wine regulations
have been adopted, guaranteeing the quality of the wine.
There are currently over 300 geographically defined wine regions, and a strict classification system to ensure quality and origin. The majority of Croatian wine is white, with most of the remainder being red, and only a small percentage is rosé
wines. In 2005, Croatia ranked 21st in wine producing countries with 180,000 tonnes.
Wine is a popular drink in Croatia, and locals traditionally like to drink wine with their meals. Quite often, the wine is diluted with either still or sparkling water - producing a drink known as (a combination of wine and carbonated water), and (a combination of wine and still water).
Like the rest of Central Europe
, viticulture
in the present-day Croatia
existed hundreds of years before the rise of the Roman Empire
. Recent research has shown that the Illyrians
living in Dalmatia during the Bronze Age
and Iron Age
may already have grown grapevines. However, the true beginning of grape cultivation and wine production in Croatia is related to the Ancient Greek
s settlers, who arrived on the Croatian coast in the 5th century BC. The Greek writer Athenaeus
wrote 22 centuries ago about the high quality wine produced on the Dalmatian islands of Vis
, Hvar
and Korčula
. Coins from the period have motifs related to grape cultivation and wine, demonstrating the importance of wine in the economics of the ancient Greek colonies.
Under the Roman Empire
, the production of wine grew, becoming more organized. Wine was exported to other parts of the empire. Artifacts from this time include stone presses from which wine was squeezed, amphora
s from sunken Roman galleys, and decorations on numerous religious and household items bear witness to the wine-making culture.
As the Croatians arrived and settled the area, they learned from their predecessors, and wine production continued to expand. During the Middle Ages, there was a royal court official called the "royal wine procurer", whose responsibilities included the production and procurement of wine. Free towns adopted legal standards on winegrowing and protected it accordingly. For example, a statute of the town and island of Korčula in 1214 contains strict rules protecting the vineyards.
In the 15th century, the Ottoman Turks
arrived in South Eastern Europe, and imposed strict anti-alcohol laws as part of the new Islamic law
. Fortunately, the Ottoman Empire
was tolerant of Christianity
, and Catholic
church traditions involving wine are thought to have “saved” European wine production from complete extinction. Priests and monks were permitted to continue producing wine in order to provide for Church services.
In the 18th century, much of present-day Croatia came under control of the Habsburg Empire, where wine production flourished through the 19th and 20th centuries. But the history of wine
was to change dramatically in 1874, when phylloxera
, a hazardous grapevine pest, started to appear in Europe. Wine production dropped, first in France and Germany, as the growers struggled to combat the blight. For a time, Croatian vineyards remained unaffected, and wine exports greatly increased to fill the extra demand. Some French companies even planted vines in Croatia with a view to expanding operations in the safe area. However, by the turn of the 20th century, Croatian vines had also succumbed to phylloxera, leading to the destruction of the vineyards and the collapse of the local economy in many areas. Large numbers of wine growing families moved to the new world
, contributing to the growth of wine production there.
Under the communist system of Yugoslavia
, wine production was centered in large cooperatives, and private ownership of vineyards was discouraged. Quantity rather than quality became the main focus. The Croatian War of Independence
in the early 1990s saw many vineyards and wineries once again destroyed. However, with the move back to small, independent producers, Croatian wines are once again competing with the best in the world wine market.
Croatia is a Mediterranean country, lying to the east of Italy
, across the Adriatic Sea
. Towards the north lie the Alps
, and to the north-east the country
forms the western end of the great Pannonian Plain.
The interior of Croatia has a continental climate, with cold winters and hot summers with enough rain for this to be a major agricultural area. Wine-growing is concentrated in the hilly areas bordering on the Pannonian Plain.
The Dalmatian Coast is typically Mediterranean in climate, although the Dinaric Alps
mountain range creates pockets of alpine climate at higher altitudes. The coastline of the Adriatic Sea
is ideal for grape cultivation with its hot, humid summers and mild winters. Further down the coast, and on the islands, grapes are grown on the karst hillside, sometimes steep slopes with little rainfall. Some of the best-known wine-production areas are on the Dalmatian islands. Located along hillsides and slopes, wine regions along the coast receive many hours of sunlight, ideal for grape production.
Croatia is also home to the Slavonian oak forest, producing the oak casks favoured by many winemakers in Europe for aging their finest wines.
The average inland temperature is between 0 and 2 °C in January, and between 19 and 23 °C in August. Average coastal temperatures range from 6–11 °C in January to 21–27 °C in August. Sea temperature averages 12 °C in winter and 25 °C in summer.
, Austria
and Hungary. On the north coast, Istrian wines are similar to those produced in neighbouring Italy
, while further south production is more towards big Mediterranean-style reds. On the islands and the Dalmatian coast, local grape varietals, microclimates and the rather harsh nature of the vineyards leads to some highly individual wines, and some of Croatia's best known.
The majority (67%) of wine produced is white and produced in the interior, while 32% is red and produced mainly along the coast. Rosé is relatively rare. Some special wines, such as sparkling wine
( or ) and dessert wine
are also produced.
.svg.png)
Croatia
has two main wine regions: Continental (Kontinetalna) and Coastal (Primorska), which includes the islands. Each of the main regions is divided into sub-regions which are divided yet further into smaller vinogorje, (literally wine hills) and districts. Altogether, there are more than 300 geographically-defined wine-producing areas in Croatia.
and Sava rivers, has a typical continental climate with cold winters and hot summers. Production is concentrated in white wine varieties. The best-known area within this region is Slavonia
, and the most widely planted grape is Graševina, which yields light, crisp, refreshing, mildly aromatic wines.
The continental region is divided into the following sub-regions:
The coastal wine region runs from Istria
in the north to Dalmatia
to the south. The Mediterranean climate
, with long, hot dry summers and mild, short, wet winters is particularly well suited to wine production. In Istria and the north coast, the focus is on fruity, dry white wines from a wide range of grape varieties, but mostly Malvazija, as well as bold, dry reds including Teran
. Further south, in Dalmatia, the islands and hillsides have an infinite variety of microclimates resulting in a wine-growing area where terroir is a crucially important factor. A wide range of indigeous grape varietals are grown here, the best known being Plavac Mali
, the child of Zinfandel
and Dobričić
.
The coastal region is divided into the following sub-regions (listed from north to south):
The grape varieties in use in Croatia can be very confusing to foreigners, not simply because the Croatian names are unfamiliar, but because many of the varieties may not be in use beyond a very limited area. Croatia's long history of wine production has left it with a rich tradition of indigenous varietals, especially in the more out-lying areas, or the more extreme growing conditions. Some of these have been so successful that they are in widespread use within Croatia, yet remain relatively unknown outside the country. One such is Plavac Mali
, the foundation of many highly-regarded Dalmatian red wines, such as Postup
and Dingač.
The well-known Napa Valley winemaker Miljenko "Mike" Grgich
is a Croatian native, and he has argued the case for Zinfandel
being descended from the Plavac Mali
grape. DNA testing has now demonstrated that Plavac Mali is in fact a child of the true original Zinfandel, which is a little-planted grape from the same area named Crljenak Kašteljanski.
Following the devastation of the vines by phylloxera
at the end of the 19th century, Croatian vineyards were replanted by grafting the traditional varieties on to American root stock. Only a very few pre-phylloxera vines still survive today on a couple of the islands (Korčula
, and Susak
). In recent years, foreign-based winemakers and investors are taking an interest in Croatia's many indigenous grape varietals. As the battle against phylloxera continues, broadening the gene pool may be one way to help prevent a recurrence.
The tables below give an overview of the common varieties, alternative names, and where they are grown.
The Croatian Institute of Viticulture and Enology was set up in 1996 to oversee the country's wine industry, and be responsible for regulating wine-growing and wine production. Standards, similar to the EU wine regulations
were set up, to ensure the consistent quality of the final product.
Croatian wines are classified by quality, which is clearly marked on the label.
In addition, wines may qualify for a geographical origin stamp, if it is produced from grapes grown in the same wine-growing region. The definition becomes stricter for higher quality classifications, so that a premium quality wine with geographical origin stamp must meet criteria for the type of grape, the position in the vinogorije (wine-growing hill) with the distinct quality and characteristics for the varietal.
If the wine has a grape varietal stamp, it must be at least 85% of the grape type whose name it carries. Distinctive quality wines are the wines that have a special quality, attained in certain years, in special conditions of maturation, manner of harvesting and processing, and have to be produced only from the recommended sorts of grape for the particular wine-growing hills.
Wines qualifying for a vintage designation, known as Arhiv must be kept in cellar conditions longer than its optimal maturation period, and not less than 5 years from the day of processing grape into wine, of which at least 3 years in a bottle.
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
settlers, and their wine production
Ancient Greece and wine
The influence of ancient Greece on wine is significant not only to the Greek wine industry but to the development of almost all European wine regions and to the history of wine itself...
on the southern Dalmatia
Dalmatia
Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
n islands of Vis
Vis (island)
Vis is the most outerly lying larger Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea, and is part of the Central Dalmatian group of islands, with an area of 90.26 km² and a population of 3,617 . Of all the inhabited Croatian islands, it is the farthest from the coast...
, Hvar
Hvar
- Climate :The climate of Hvar is characterized by mild winters and warm summers. The yearly average air temperature is , 686 mm of precipitation fall on the town of Hvar on average every year and the town has a total of 2800 sunshine hours per year. For comparison Hvar has an average of 7.7...
and Korčula
Korcula
Korčula is an island in the Adriatic Sea, in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County of Croatia. The island has an area of ; long and on average wide — and lies just off the Dalmatian coast. Its 16,182 inhabitants make it the second most populous Adriatic island after Krk...
some 2,500 years ago. Like other old world wine
Old World wine
Old World wine refers primarily to wine made in Europe but can also include other regions of the Mediterranean basin with long histories of winemaking such as North Africa and the Near East. The phrase is often used in contrast to "New World wine" which refers primarily to wines from New World wine...
producers, many traditional grape varieties still survive in Croatia, perfectly suited to their local wine hills. Modern wine-production methods have taken over in the larger wineries, and EU-style wine regulations
European Union wine regulations
European Union wine regulations are common legislation related to wine existing within the European Union , the member states of which account for almost two-thirds of the world's wine production...
have been adopted, guaranteeing the quality of the wine.
There are currently over 300 geographically defined wine regions, and a strict classification system to ensure quality and origin. The majority of Croatian wine is white, with most of the remainder being red, and only a small percentage is rosé
Rosé
A rosé is a type of wine that has some of the color typical of a red wine, but only enough to turn it pink. The pink color can range from a pale orange to a vivid near-purple, depending on the grapes and wine making techniques.- Production techniques :There are three major ways to produce rosé...
wines. In 2005, Croatia ranked 21st in wine producing countries with 180,000 tonnes.
Wine is a popular drink in Croatia, and locals traditionally like to drink wine with their meals. Quite often, the wine is diluted with either still or sparkling water - producing a drink known as (a combination of wine and carbonated water), and (a combination of wine and still water).
History
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
, viticulture
Viticulture
Viticulture is the science, production and study of grapes which deals with the series of events that occur in the vineyard. When the grapes are used for winemaking, it is also known as viniculture...
in the present-day Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
existed hundreds of years before the rise of the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
. Recent research has shown that the Illyrians
Illyrians
The Illyrians were a group of tribes who inhabited part of the western Balkans in antiquity and the south-eastern coasts of the Italian peninsula...
living in Dalmatia during the Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
and Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
may already have grown grapevines. However, the true beginning of grape cultivation and wine production in Croatia is related to the Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
s settlers, who arrived on the Croatian coast in the 5th century BC. The Greek writer Athenaeus
Athenaeus
Athenaeus , of Naucratis in Egypt, Greek rhetorician and grammarian, flourished about the end of the 2nd and beginning of the 3rd century AD...
wrote 22 centuries ago about the high quality wine produced on the Dalmatian islands of Vis
Vis (island)
Vis is the most outerly lying larger Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea, and is part of the Central Dalmatian group of islands, with an area of 90.26 km² and a population of 3,617 . Of all the inhabited Croatian islands, it is the farthest from the coast...
, Hvar
Hvar
- Climate :The climate of Hvar is characterized by mild winters and warm summers. The yearly average air temperature is , 686 mm of precipitation fall on the town of Hvar on average every year and the town has a total of 2800 sunshine hours per year. For comparison Hvar has an average of 7.7...
and Korčula
Korcula
Korčula is an island in the Adriatic Sea, in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County of Croatia. The island has an area of ; long and on average wide — and lies just off the Dalmatian coast. Its 16,182 inhabitants make it the second most populous Adriatic island after Krk...
. Coins from the period have motifs related to grape cultivation and wine, demonstrating the importance of wine in the economics of the ancient Greek colonies.
Under the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
, the production of wine grew, becoming more organized. Wine was exported to other parts of the empire. Artifacts from this time include stone presses from which wine was squeezed, amphora
Amphora
An amphora is a type of vase-shaped, usually ceramic container with two handles and a long neck narrower than the body...
s from sunken Roman galleys, and decorations on numerous religious and household items bear witness to the wine-making culture.
As the Croatians arrived and settled the area, they learned from their predecessors, and wine production continued to expand. During the Middle Ages, there was a royal court official called the "royal wine procurer", whose responsibilities included the production and procurement of wine. Free towns adopted legal standards on winegrowing and protected it accordingly. For example, a statute of the town and island of Korčula in 1214 contains strict rules protecting the vineyards.
Ottoman Turks
The Ottoman Turks were the Turkish-speaking population of the Ottoman Empire who formed the base of the state's military and ruling classes. Reliable information about the early history of Ottoman Turks is scarce, but they take their Turkish name, Osmanlı , from the house of Osman I The Ottoman...
arrived in South Eastern Europe, and imposed strict anti-alcohol laws as part of the new Islamic law
Sharia
Sharia law, is the moral code and religious law of Islam. Sharia is derived from two primary sources of Islamic law: the precepts set forth in the Quran, and the example set by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Sunnah. Fiqh jurisprudence interprets and extends the application of sharia to...
. Fortunately, the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
was tolerant of Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, and Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
church traditions involving wine are thought to have “saved” European wine production from complete extinction. Priests and monks were permitted to continue producing wine in order to provide for Church services.
In the 18th century, much of present-day Croatia came under control of the Habsburg Empire, where wine production flourished through the 19th and 20th centuries. But the history of wine
History of wine
The history of wine spans thousands of years and is closely intertwined with the history of agriculture, cuisine, civilization and humanity itself...
was to change dramatically in 1874, when phylloxera
Phylloxera
Grape phylloxera ; originally described in France as Phylloxera vastatrix; equated to the previously described Daktulosphaira vitifoliae, Phylloxera vitifoliae; commonly just called phylloxera is a pest of commercial grapevines worldwide, originally native to eastern North America...
, a hazardous grapevine pest, started to appear in Europe. Wine production dropped, first in France and Germany, as the growers struggled to combat the blight. For a time, Croatian vineyards remained unaffected, and wine exports greatly increased to fill the extra demand. Some French companies even planted vines in Croatia with a view to expanding operations in the safe area. However, by the turn of the 20th century, Croatian vines had also succumbed to phylloxera, leading to the destruction of the vineyards and the collapse of the local economy in many areas. Large numbers of wine growing families moved to the new world
New World wine
New World wines are those wines produced outside the traditional wine-growing areas of Europe, in particular from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States.-Early wines in the Americas:...
, contributing to the growth of wine production there.
Under the communist system of Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, wine production was centered in large cooperatives, and private ownership of vineyards was discouraged. Quantity rather than quality became the main focus. The Croatian War of Independence
Croatian War of Independence
The Croatian War of Independence was fought from 1991 to 1995 between forces loyal to the government of Croatia—which had declared independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia —and the Serb-controlled Yugoslav People's Army and local Serb forces, with the JNA ending its combat...
in the early 1990s saw many vineyards and wineries once again destroyed. However, with the move back to small, independent producers, Croatian wines are once again competing with the best in the world wine market.
Geography and climate
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, across the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
. Towards the north lie the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
, and to the north-east the country
Geography of Croatia
Geography of Croatia is defined by location of Croatia in the Southeast Europe, bordering Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia in the east, Slovenia in the west, Hungary in the north and Montenegro and the Adriatic Sea in the south. It lies mostly between latitudes 42° and 47° N and longitudes 13° and...
forms the western end of the great Pannonian Plain.
The interior of Croatia has a continental climate, with cold winters and hot summers with enough rain for this to be a major agricultural area. Wine-growing is concentrated in the hilly areas bordering on the Pannonian Plain.
The Dalmatian Coast is typically Mediterranean in climate, although the Dinaric Alps
Dinaric Alps
The Dinaric Alps or Dinarides form a mountain chain in Southern Europe, spanning areas of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro....
mountain range creates pockets of alpine climate at higher altitudes. The coastline of the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
is ideal for grape cultivation with its hot, humid summers and mild winters. Further down the coast, and on the islands, grapes are grown on the karst hillside, sometimes steep slopes with little rainfall. Some of the best-known wine-production areas are on the Dalmatian islands. Located along hillsides and slopes, wine regions along the coast receive many hours of sunlight, ideal for grape production.
Croatia is also home to the Slavonian oak forest, producing the oak casks favoured by many winemakers in Europe for aging their finest wines.
The average inland temperature is between 0 and 2 °C in January, and between 19 and 23 °C in August. Average coastal temperatures range from 6–11 °C in January to 21–27 °C in August. Sea temperature averages 12 °C in winter and 25 °C in summer.
Wine styles
There are two distinct wine-producing regions in Croatia. The continental region in the north-east of the country, produces rich fruity white wines, similar in style to the neighbouring areas of SloveniaSlovenian wine
Slovenian wine is wine from the Central European country of Slovenia. Viticulture and winemaking has existed in this region since the time of the Celts and Illyrians tribes, long before the Romans would introduce winemaking to the lands of France, Spain and Germany...
, Austria
Austrian wine
Austrian wines are mostly dry white wines with some luscious dessert wines made around the Neusiedler See. About 30% of the wines are red, made from Blaufränkisch , Pinot Noir and locally bred varieties such as Zweigelt...
and Hungary. On the north coast, Istrian wines are similar to those produced in neighbouring Italy
Italian wine
Italian wine is wine produced in Italy, a country which is home to some of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world. Italy is the world's largest wine producer, responsible for approximately one-fifth of world wine production in 2005. Italian wine is exported largely around the world and has...
, while further south production is more towards big Mediterranean-style reds. On the islands and the Dalmatian coast, local grape varietals, microclimates and the rather harsh nature of the vineyards leads to some highly individual wines, and some of Croatia's best known.
The majority (67%) of wine produced is white and produced in the interior, while 32% is red and produced mainly along the coast. Rosé is relatively rare. Some special wines, such as sparkling wine
Sparkling wine
Sparkling wine is a wine with significant levels of carbon dioxide in it making it fizzy. The carbon dioxide may result from natural fermentation, either in a bottle, as with the méthode champenoise, in a large tank designed to withstand the pressures involved , or as a result of carbon dioxide...
( or ) and dessert wine
Dessert wine
Dessert wines are sweet wines typically served with dessert.There is no simple definition of a dessert wine. In the UK, a dessert wine is considered to be any sweet wine drunk with a meal, as opposed to the white fortified wines drunk before the meal, and the red fortified wines drunk after it...
are also produced.
Wine Regions
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
has two main wine regions: Continental (Kontinetalna) and Coastal (Primorska), which includes the islands. Each of the main regions is divided into sub-regions which are divided yet further into smaller vinogorje, (literally wine hills) and districts. Altogether, there are more than 300 geographically-defined wine-producing areas in Croatia.
Continental Croatia
The inland wine region, stretching from north-west to south-east along the DravaDrava
Drava or Drave is a river in southern Central Europe, a tributary of the Danube. It sources in Toblach/Dobbiaco, Italy, and flows east through East Tirol and Carinthia in Austria, into Slovenia , and then southeast, passing through Croatia and forming most of the border between Croatia and...
and Sava rivers, has a typical continental climate with cold winters and hot summers. Production is concentrated in white wine varieties. The best-known area within this region is Slavonia
Slavonia
Slavonia is a geographical and historical region in eastern Croatia...
, and the most widely planted grape is Graševina, which yields light, crisp, refreshing, mildly aromatic wines.
The continental region is divided into the following sub-regions:
| Sub-region | Winehills (Vinogorje) |
|---|---|
| Moslavina Moslavina Moslavina is a microregion in Croatia, administratively divided into the counties of Zagreb, Sisak-Moslavina and Bjelovar-Bilogora. The main city in the region in terms of traffic, commerce and business is the city of Kutina , with 24,000 citizens. Other important centres are Ivanić grad , Čazma,... |
Čazma Cazma Čazma is a town and municipality in Bjelovar-Bilogora County, Croatia. It is part of Moslavina.-Geography:Čazma is situated 60 kilometers east of Zagreb and only 30 kilometres from the center of the region - Bjelovar.... , Voloder Voloder Voloder is a village in the municipality of Bosanska Krupa, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:... -Ivanić Grad Ivanic Grad Ivanić-Grad is a town in Zagreb County, Croatia. It is part of Moslavina.-Geography:Ivanić-Grad is located south-east from Zagreb, connected: by highway A3 by train on direction Zagreb - Slavonski Brod - Vinkovci.-Population:In the 2001 census, the total population is 14,544, in the following... |
| Plešivica | Krašić Krašic Krašić is a village in central Croatia, located near Jastrebarsko and Ozalj, south of Žumberak and north of Kupa, about 50 km southwest of Zagreb. Krašić comprises an area of about 3.63 km²... , Ozalj Ozalj Ozalj is a town in central Croatia, located north of Karlovac and southwest of Jastrebarsko, on the Kupa river. It is close to Žumberak in the north and the border with Slovenia in the northwest, with Metlika being the closest Slovenian town.-Population:... -Vivodina Vivodina Vivodina is a village in Croatia, Karlovac County. It is first mentioned on September 22, 1321. The village is well known for a long winery tradition and that both parents of NBA Hall of Famer George Mikan descends from Vivodina near Bubnjarci.... , Plešivica-Okić Okić Okić is a village in Croatia. It is connected by the D6 highway.... , Samobor Samobor Samobor is a town in the Zagreb County, Croatia. It is part of the Zagreb metropolitan area.-Geography:Samobor is located west of Zagreb, between the eastern slopes of the Samoborsko gorje , in the Sava River valley.-Population:... , Sveta Jana |
| Podunavlje Podunavlje Podunavlje is the name of the Danube river basin parts located in Serbia and Croatia .-History:... |
Baranja, Erdut Erdut Erdut is a village and a municipality in eastern Croatia. It is located in the Osijek-Baranja County, eastern Slavonia, 37 km east of Osijek. The elevation of the village of Erdut is 158 m... , Srijem |
| Pokuplje Pokuplje Pokuplje is the name for the Kupa river basin in Croatia.... |
Karlovac Karlovac Karlovac is a city and municipality in central Croatia. The city proper has a population of 49,082, while the municipality has a population of 59,395 inhabitants .Karlovac is the administrative centre of Karlovac County... , Petrinja Petrinja Petrinja is a city in central Croatia near Sisak in the historic region of Banovina. The city belongs to Sisak-Moslavina County .- History :The name of Petrinja has its roots in Latin petrus, meaning "stone"... , Vukomeričke Gorice Vukomeričke gorice Vukomeričke gorice or Vrhovje, is a wooded low mountain range in Zagreb County, central Croatia. It is located on southwestern border of Turopolje region. The name of the mountains comes from the village Vukomerić which got its name from Vukomer, leader of Vukota tribe that once lived in this... |
| Prigorje - Bilogora | Bilogora Bilogora Bilogora is a low mountainous range in central Croatia. It consists of a series of hills and small plains some 80 kilometres in length stretching in the direction northwest-southeast, along the southwest part of the Podravina region... , Dugo Selo Dugo Selo -Geography:Dugo Selo is a 20 km drive from Zagreb city centre.The town covers an area of 51 km² and it consists of numerous settlements. The summit of the hill Martin Breg is situated in the northern part of the town. Most neighborhoods of Dugo Selo are located on the Martin Breg... -Vrbovec Vrbovec Vrbovec is city in Zagreb county, Croatia, lying to the northeast of the capital Zagreb.-Geography:The town of Vrbovec lies to the north-east of Zagreb, either along the highway A4 , and then B28 expressway Vrbovec is city in Zagreb county, Croatia, lying to the northeast of the capital... , Kalnik Kalnik Kalnik is a municipality in the Koprivnica-Križevci County in Croatia. According to the 2011 census, there are 1,361 inhabitants in the area.-References:... , Koprivnica Koprivnica Koprivnica is a city in northern Croatia. It is the capital of the Koprivnica-Križevci county. In 2011 the city administrative area had a total population of 30,872, with 23,896 in the city itself.-Population:... -Đurđevac, Zagreb Zagreb Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city... , Sv. Ivan Zelina Sveti Ivan Zelina -Geography:Sveti Ivan Zelina is north-east from Zagreb, connected: by A4 highway , then state road Sv.Helena - Sveti Ivan Zelina,-Population:... |
| Slavonia Slavonia Slavonia is a geographical and historical region in eastern Croatia... |
Daruvar Daruvar Daruvar is a town in central Croatia, population 9,815 , total municipality population 13,243 .... , Đakovo, Feričanci Fericanci Feričanci is a municipality in Osijek-Baranja county, Croatia. There are 2,418 inhabitants, 96% who are Croats.... , Kutjevo Kutjevo Kutjevo is a town in Slavonia, Croatia, located northeast of Požega. In the census of 2011, there were 6,168 people, 2,399 in the town itself. In the census of 2001, 96% of the population declared themselves Croats.... , Nova Gradiška Nova Gradiška Nova Gradiška is a city located in the Brod-Posavina County of Croatia, population 14,196 . It is located in the historic region of Slavonia, near the border to Bosnia and Herzegovina.... , Orahovica Orahovica Orahovica is a town in Slavonia, Croatia. It is situated on the slopes of the mountain Papuk and positioned on the state road D2 Varaždin-Koprivnica-Našice-Osijek.-Economy:... -Slatina Slatina Slatina refers to a number of geographical objects in Europe:In Albania:* another name for Slatine and for SllatinaIn Antarctica* Slatina Peak... , Pakrac Pakrac Pakrac is a town in western Slavonia, Croatia, population 4,852, total municipality population 8,482 . Pakrac is located on the road and railroad connecting the regions of Posavina and Podravina.-Name:... , Požega Požega, Croatia Požega is a city in western Slavonia, eastern Croatia, with a total population of 26,403 . It is the administrative center of the Požega-Slavonia County.-Geography:... -Pleternica Pleternica Pleternica is a town in the region of Slavonia, Croatia, southeast of Požega, in the Požega Valley . The population of the municipality is 11,286, with 3,443 in Pleternica itself .... , Slavonski Brod Slavonski Brod Slavonski Brod is a city in Croatia, with a population of 59,507 in 2011. The city was known as Marsonia in the Roman Empire, and as Brod na Savi 1244–1934. It is the sixth largest city in Croatia, after Zagreb, Split, Rijeka, Osijek and Zadar. Located in the region of Slavonia, it is the... , Virovitica Virovitica Virovitica is a Croatian town near the Croatian-Hungarian border. It is situated near the Drava river and belongs to the historic region of Slavonia. Virovitica has a population of 14,663, with 21,327 people in the municipality... |
| Zagorje Hrvatsko Zagorje Hrvatsko Zagorje is a region north of Zagreb, Croatia. It comprises the whole area north of Medvednica mountain up to Slovenia in the north and west, and up to the regions of Međimurje and Podravina in the north and east... - Međimurje |
Klanjec Klanjec Klanjec is a small town in northwestern Croatia, in the region of Hrvatsko Zagorje on the border with Slovenia. The population of Klanjec is 565, but there are 2,915 people in the municipality... , Krapina Krapina Krapina is a town in northern Croatia and the administrative centre of Krapina-Zagorje County with a population of 4,482 and a total municipality population of 12,479... , Ludbreg Ludbreg Ludbreg is a town in Croatia, located halfway between Varaždin and Koprivnica near the river Drava. It has 3,594 inhabitants, and a total of 8,458 in the entire municipality .-History:... , Međimurje, Pregrada Pregrada Pregrada is a town and municipality in Krapina-Zagorje county in Croatia. In the 2011 census, there were 6,613 inhabitants in the following settlements:* Benkovo, population 327* Bregi Kostelski, population 270* Bušin, population 138... , Stubica Stubica Stubica may refer to:* Donja Stubica, a town in Krapina-Zagorje County, Croatia* Gornja Stubica, a municipality in Krapina-Zagorje County, Croatia* Stubica, Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, a village near Vrbovsko, Croatia... , Varaždin Varaždin Varaždin is a city in north Croatia, north of Zagreb on the highway A4. The total population is 47,055, with 38,746 on of the city settlement itself . The centre of Varaždin county is located near the Drava river, at... , Zabok Zabok Zabok is a town and municipality situated in northwest Croatia in the Krapina-Zagorje County. It has a total population of 9,365 . Zabok is situated on the main crossroads in the heart of Hrvatsko zagorje region... , Zlatar |
Coastal Croatia
Istria County
Istria County is the westernmost county of Croatia which includes the biggest part of the Istrian peninsula . The area of the county is called Istra in Croatian and Slovene...
in the north to Dalmatia
Dalmatia
Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
to the south. The Mediterranean climate
Mediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate is the climate typical of most of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, and is a particular variety of subtropical climate...
, with long, hot dry summers and mild, short, wet winters is particularly well suited to wine production. In Istria and the north coast, the focus is on fruity, dry white wines from a wide range of grape varieties, but mostly Malvazija, as well as bold, dry reds including Teran
Terrano (grape)
Terrano or Teran is a Slovenian dark-skinned grape varieties. It is a member of the Refosco family of grape varieties, which also includes Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso....
. Further south, in Dalmatia, the islands and hillsides have an infinite variety of microclimates resulting in a wine-growing area where terroir is a crucially important factor. A wide range of indigeous grape varietals are grown here, the best known being Plavac Mali
Plavac Mali
Plavac Mali, a cross between ancestral Zinfandel and Dobričić grapes, is the primary red wine grape grown along the Dalmatian coast of Croatia...
, the child of Zinfandel
Zinfandel
Zinfandel is a variety of red grape planted in over 10 percent of California vineyards. DNA fingerprinting revealed that it is genetically equivalent to the Croatian grape Crljenak Kaštelanski, and also the Primitivo variety traditionally grown in Puglia , where it was introduced in the 18th century...
and Dobričić
Dobricic
Dobričić is an ancient red wine grape variety from the island of Šolta off the Dalmatian coast in Croatia. It is one parent of the Plavac Mali red wine grape variety; the other one is Zinfandel, a grape variety also known as Crljenak Kaštelanski in Croatia, from where it originates....
.
The coastal region is divided into the following sub-regions (listed from north to south):
| Sub-region | Winehills (Vinogorje) |
|---|---|
| Istria Istria County Istria County is the westernmost county of Croatia which includes the biggest part of the Istrian peninsula . The area of the county is called Istra in Croatian and Slovene... (Istra) |
Western Istria , Central Istria , Eastern Istria |
| Croatian Coast |
Opatija-Rijeka, islands Krk, Rab, Cres-Lošinj, Pag |
| Northern Dalmatia Dalmatia Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south.... |
Benkovac-Stankovci, Drniš Drniš Drniš is a town in Croatia, located in inland Dalmatia at halfway between Šibenik and Knin. Its municipality population is 8,595 , with 3,332 in the town itself and the rest in two dozen surrounding villages... , Knin Knin Knin is a historical town in the Šibenik-Knin county of Croatia, located near the source of the river Krka at , in the Dalmatian hinterland, on the railroad Zagreb–Split. Knin rose to prominence twice in history, as a one-time capital of both the Kingdom of Croatia and briefly of the... , Pirovac-Skradin, Primošten, Promina, Šibenik Šibenik Šibenik is a historic town in Croatia, with population of 51,553 . It is located in central Dalmatia where the river Krka flows into the Adriatic Sea... , Zadar Zadar Zadar is a city in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea. It is the centre of Zadar county and the wider northern Dalmatian region. Population of the city is 75,082 citizens... -Biograd |
| Dalmatian Interior Zagora (Croatia) Zagora , sometimes also called Dalmatian Zagora , is the southern inland region of Croatia. The name Zagora means "behind hills", which is a reference to the fact that it is the part of Dalmatia that is not coastal.... |
Imotski, Sinj Sinj Sinj is a town in the continental part of Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia. The town itself has a population of 11,448, while the population of the administrative municipality which includes surrounding villages is 24,832 .... -Vrlika, Vrgorac |
| Central and South Dalmatia Dalmatia Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south.... |
Kaštela Kaštela Kaštela is a series of seven towns in central Dalmatia, located northwest of Split, west of Solin and east of Trogir, in Croatia. They are part of the Split-Dalmatia county and are treated as a single city with a population of 38,474 , although they are individually between 3,000 and 7,000... -Trogir Trogir Trogir is a historic town and harbour on the Adriatic coast in Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia, with a population of 12,995 and a total municipality population of 13,322 . The historic city of Trogir is situated on a small island between the Croatian mainland and the island of Čiovo... , Split Split (city) Split is a Mediterranean city on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, centered around the ancient Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian and its wide port bay. With a population of 178,192 citizens, and a metropolitan area numbering up to 467,899, Split is by far the largest Dalmatian city and... -Omiš Omiš Omiš is a town and port in the Dalmatia region of Croatia, and is a municipality in the Split-Dalmatia County. The town is situated approximately south-east of Croatia's second largest city, Split. Its location is where the emerald-green Cetina River meets the Adriatic Sea... -Makarska Makarska Makarska is a small town on the Adriatic coastline of Croatia, about southeast of Split and northwest of Dubrovnik. It has a population of 13,716 residents. Administratively Makarska has the status of a town and it is part of the Split-Dalmatia County.... , Neretva, Konavle, Pelješac Pelješac Pelješac is a peninsula in southern Dalmatia in Croatia. The peninsula is part of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County and is the second largest peninsula in Croatia... peninsula, islands Brač Brac Brač is an island in the Adriatic Sea within Croatia, with an area of 396 km², making it the largest island in Dalmatia, and the third largest in the Adriatic. Its tallest peak, Vidova Gora, or Mount St. Vid, stands at 778 m, making it the highest island point in the Adriatic... , Hvar Hvar - Climate :The climate of Hvar is characterized by mild winters and warm summers. The yearly average air temperature is , 686 mm of precipitation fall on the town of Hvar on average every year and the town has a total of 2800 sunshine hours per year. For comparison Hvar has an average of 7.7... , Korčula Korcula Korčula is an island in the Adriatic Sea, in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County of Croatia. The island has an area of ; long and on average wide — and lies just off the Dalmatian coast. Its 16,182 inhabitants make it the second most populous Adriatic island after Krk... , Lastovo Lastovo Lastovo is an island municipality in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County in Croatia. The municipality consists of 46 islands with a total population of 792 people, of which 93% are ethnic Croats, and a land area of approximately . The biggest island in the municipality is also named Lastovo, as is the... , Mljet Mljet Mljet is the most southerly and easterly of the larger Adriatic islands of the Dalmatia region of Croatia. The National Park includes the western part of the island, Veliko jezero, Malo jezero, Soline Bay and a sea belt 500 m wide from the most prominent cape of Mljet covering an area of... , Šolta Šolta Šolta is an island in Croatia. It is situated in the Adriatic Sea in the central Dalmatian archipelago, west of the island of Brač, south of Split and east of the Drvenik islands . Its area is 58.98 km2 and it has a population of 1,675 .The highest peak of Šolta is the summit Vela Straža... , Vis Vis (island) Vis is the most outerly lying larger Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea, and is part of the Central Dalmatian group of islands, with an area of 90.26 km² and a population of 3,617 . Of all the inhabited Croatian islands, it is the farthest from the coast... |
Grape Varieties
Plavac Mali
Plavac Mali, a cross between ancestral Zinfandel and Dobričić grapes, is the primary red wine grape grown along the Dalmatian coast of Croatia...
, the foundation of many highly-regarded Dalmatian red wines, such as Postup
Postup
Postup is wine growing region on Croatia's Pelješac peninsula just to the east of Orebić. It takes its name from the small village that sits at the center of it....
and Dingač.
The well-known Napa Valley winemaker Miljenko "Mike" Grgich
Mike Grgich
Mike Grgich is a Croatian American winemaker in California. He was born into a winemaking family in the town of Desne on Croatia's coastal region of Dalmatia...
is a Croatian native, and he has argued the case for Zinfandel
Zinfandel
Zinfandel is a variety of red grape planted in over 10 percent of California vineyards. DNA fingerprinting revealed that it is genetically equivalent to the Croatian grape Crljenak Kaštelanski, and also the Primitivo variety traditionally grown in Puglia , where it was introduced in the 18th century...
being descended from the Plavac Mali
Plavac Mali
Plavac Mali, a cross between ancestral Zinfandel and Dobričić grapes, is the primary red wine grape grown along the Dalmatian coast of Croatia...
grape. DNA testing has now demonstrated that Plavac Mali is in fact a child of the true original Zinfandel, which is a little-planted grape from the same area named Crljenak Kašteljanski.
Following the devastation of the vines by phylloxera
Phylloxera
Grape phylloxera ; originally described in France as Phylloxera vastatrix; equated to the previously described Daktulosphaira vitifoliae, Phylloxera vitifoliae; commonly just called phylloxera is a pest of commercial grapevines worldwide, originally native to eastern North America...
at the end of the 19th century, Croatian vineyards were replanted by grafting the traditional varieties on to American root stock. Only a very few pre-phylloxera vines still survive today on a couple of the islands (Korčula
Korcula
Korčula is an island in the Adriatic Sea, in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County of Croatia. The island has an area of ; long and on average wide — and lies just off the Dalmatian coast. Its 16,182 inhabitants make it the second most populous Adriatic island after Krk...
, and Susak
Susak
Susak is a small island on the northern Adriatic coast of Croatia. The name Sansego comes from the Greek word Sansegus meaning oregano which grows in abundance on the island. A small percentage of natives still reside on the island which has increasingly become a popular tourist...
). In recent years, foreign-based winemakers and investors are taking an interest in Croatia's many indigenous grape varietals. As the battle against phylloxera continues, broadening the gene pool may be one way to help prevent a recurrence.
The tables below give an overview of the common varieties, alternative names, and where they are grown.
White Wine Grapes
| Grape | Origin / other names | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Bogdanuša Bogdanuša Bogdanuša is a white grape variety, which is grown on the Croatian island of Hvar, where it originated on the Stari Grad Plain. Wines from this grape tend to be dry with a green-yellow to golden color and from 12% alcohol on up.... |
Origin: Stari Grad Plain Stari Grad Plain The Stari Grad Plain on the island of Hvar is an agricultural landscape that was set up by the ancient Greek colonists in the 4th century BC, and remains in use today. The plain is generally still in its original form... on Hvar Hvar - Climate :The climate of Hvar is characterized by mild winters and warm summers. The yearly average air temperature is , 686 mm of precipitation fall on the town of Hvar on average every year and the town has a total of 2800 sunshine hours per year. For comparison Hvar has an average of 7.7... |
Central & South Dalmatia, esp. Hvar |
| Bratkovina | Origin: Dalmatia | Central & South Dalmatia, esp. Korčula |
| Cetinjka Bijela | Central & South Dalmatia, esp. Korčula Korcula Korčula is an island in the Adriatic Sea, in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County of Croatia. The island has an area of ; long and on average wide — and lies just off the Dalmatian coast. Its 16,182 inhabitants make it the second most populous Adriatic island after Krk... , Hvar Hvar - Climate :The climate of Hvar is characterized by mild winters and warm summers. The yearly average air temperature is , 686 mm of precipitation fall on the town of Hvar on average every year and the town has a total of 2800 sunshine hours per year. For comparison Hvar has an average of 7.7... , Mljet Mljet Mljet is the most southerly and easterly of the larger Adriatic islands of the Dalmatia region of Croatia. The National Park includes the western part of the island, Veliko jezero, Malo jezero, Soline Bay and a sea belt 500 m wide from the most prominent cape of Mljet covering an area of... , Peljesac Pelješac Pelješac is a peninsula in southern Dalmatia in Croatia. The peninsula is part of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County and is the second largest peninsula in Croatia... |
|
| Chardonnay Chardonnay Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. It is originated from the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand... |
Moslavina, Plešivica, Podunavlje, Pokuplje, Prigorje - Bilogora, Slavonia, Zagorje - Međimurje, Istria, Croatian Coast, North Dalmatia, Dalmatian Interior (everywhere except Central & South Dalmatia) | |
| Debit Debit (grape) Debit is a white wine grape grown primarily along the Northern & Central Dalmatian Coast of Croatia. The fruit are medium sized golden yellow color and in clusters of medium size or large.-History:... |
Origin: Came to Dalmatia from Puglia, Italy, but may originate from Turkey Turkey Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe... |
North Dalmatia, Dalmatian Interior, Central & South Dalmatia |
| Gegić | Debeljan | Croatian Coast, esp. the islands such as Rab |
| Graševina | Welschriesling Welschriesling Welschriesling is an ancient variety of white wine grape, unrelated to the Rhine Riesling, that is grown throughout Central Europe. The origin of Welschriesling is uncertain. The German name "Welschriesling" literally means 'Romanic Riesling', and most of the synonyms in Central Europe are... , Laški rizling, Italian Riesling, Olaszriesling/Origin: May be France. |
Widely grown throughout the Continental Region. Slavonia produces the largest number of premium quality Graševina wines. |
| Grk | Origin: Lumbarda Lumbarda Lumbarda is a small village and a municipality located on the Eastern Cape of the Island of Korčula in Croatia, 7 kilometers away from the town of Korcula. A road passing through a picturesque area of pine woods and olive groves connects these two places... on Korčula Korcula Korčula is an island in the Adriatic Sea, in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County of Croatia. The island has an area of ; long and on average wide — and lies just off the Dalmatian coast. Its 16,182 inhabitants make it the second most populous Adriatic island after Krk... |
Central & South Dalmatia, esp. Korčula, Mljet and Peljesac |
| Kraljevina | Origin: Zeline, Prigorje | Moslavina, Prigorje - Bilogora, Zagorje-Međimurje |
| Kujundžuša | Origin: Imotsko Polje. Kojunđuša, tvrdac, tvrdorijez, žutac, ruderuša bijela | Dalmatian Interior |
| Kurtelaška bijela | Indigenous Dalmatian variety | Central & South Dalmatia, esp. Vis and nearby islands |
| Malvazija Istarska | Theoretically, Malvasia Malvasia Malvasia is a group of wine grape varieties grown historically in the Mediterranean region, Balearic islands, Canary Islands and the island of Madeira, but now grown in many of the winemaking regions of the world... but more testing is needed |
Istria, north Croatian Coast |
| Malvasia Dubrovačka | Origin: somewhere around the Mediterranean (not Malvazija Istarska or Italian Malvasia grape) | Central & South Dalmatia |
| Maraština | Origin: possibly Italy or Dalmatia. Krizol, Rukatac | Croatian Coast, North Dalmatia, Central & South Dalmatia, esp. Korčula Korcula Korčula is an island in the Adriatic Sea, in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County of Croatia. The island has an area of ; long and on average wide — and lies just off the Dalmatian coast. Its 16,182 inhabitants make it the second most populous Adriatic island after Krk... and Peljesac Pelješac Pelješac is a peninsula in southern Dalmatia in Croatia. The peninsula is part of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County and is the second largest peninsula in Croatia... , Dalmatian Interior |
| Manzoni bijeli | Incroccio manzoni. Hybrid Pinot Blanc/German Riesling | Moslavina, Plešivica, Podunavlje, Prigorje-Bilogora, Slavonia |
| Moslavac | Origin: possibly Hungary. šipon, mosler, furmint | Grown throughout the Continental region |
| Muškat bijeli | Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains is a white wine grape that is a member of the Muscat family of Vitis vinifera. Its name comes from its characteristic small berry size and tight clusters... |
Plešivica, Pokuplje, Prigorje-Bilogora, Zagorje-Međimurje, Istria (dessert wines) |
| Muškat žuti | Yellow Muscat, Muškat momjanski | Plešivica, Pokuplje, Prigorje - Bilogora, Zagorje-Međimurje, Istria, Croatian Coast (dessert wines) |
| Muškat ottonel | Muscat Ottonel Muscat Ottonel Muscat Ottonel or Muskat-Ottonel is a white wine grape that is a member of the Muscat family of Vitis vinifera. It is most notable for its use in dessert wines from Austria, Croatia and Serbia as well as dry wines from Alsace and Hungary... |
Plešivica, Podunavlje, Pokuplje, Slavonia, Zagorje-Međimurje, Istria (dessert wines) |
| Neuburger Neuburger Neuburger is a white Austrian wine grape. The grape is a crossing of Roter Veltliner and Sylvaner. As varietal, it generally produces full bodied wines.- Synonyms :... |
Austrian variety | Plešivica, Pokuplje |
| Parč PARC PARC or Parc may refer to:* PARC , the Palo Alto Research Center * PARC Management, a theme park and entertainment venue operator... |
Indigenous to Hvar | Central & South Dalmatia, esp. Hvar |
| Pinot Bijeli | Pinot Blanc Pinot Blanc Pinot blanc is a white wine grape. It is a point genetic mutation of Pinot noir. Pinot noir is genetically unstable and will occasionally experience a point mutation in which a vine bears all black fruit except for one cane which produced white fruit.... |
Continental region, Istria, Croatian Coast, Dalmatian Interior |
| Pinot Sivi | Pinot Gris Pinot Gris Pinot gris is a white wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. Thought to be a mutant clone of the Pinot noir grape, it normally has a grayish-blue fruit, accounting for its name but the grape can have a brownish pink to black and even white appearance... |
Continental region, Istria, Croatian Coast, Dalmatian Interior |
| Plavec Žuti | Old variety from NW Croatia | Moslavina, Podunavlje, Pokuplje, Prigorje-Bilogora |
| Pošip Pošip Pošip is an autochthonous white wine grape that is primarily grown in the Dalmatian region of Croatia on the island of Korčula, although small amounts are also being grown on the Pelješac Peninsula... |
Origin: Smokvica Smokvica Smokvica is a village on the island of Korčula and a municipality in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County in Croatia. It has a population of 1,210 , in which the absolute majority are Croats . Smokvica is located in the centre of the island of Korcula, about 4 kilometers west of Čara, 13 kilometers east... on Korčula Korcula Korčula is an island in the Adriatic Sea, in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County of Croatia. The island has an area of ; long and on average wide — and lies just off the Dalmatian coast. Its 16,182 inhabitants make it the second most populous Adriatic island after Krk... . |
North Dalmatia, Central & South Dalmatia, Dalmatian islands |
| (Rajnski) Rizling | German Riesling Riesling Riesling is a white grape variety which originated in the Rhine region of Germany. Riesling is an aromatic grape variety displaying flowery, almost perfumed, aromas as well as high acidity. It is used to make dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling white wines. Riesling wines are usually varietally... |
Grown throughout Continental region, producing many premium wines |
| Rizvanac bijeli | Müller-Thurgau Müller-Thurgau Müller-Thurgau is a variety of white grape which was created by Hermann Müller from the Swiss Canton of Thurgau in 1882. It is a crossing of Riesling with Madeleine Royale. It is used to make white wine in Germany, Austria, Northern Italy, Hungary, England, in Australia, Czech Republic, Slovakia,... |
Grown throughout Continental region |
| Rkaciteli | Moldavian variety | North Dalmatia |
| Ružica Crvena | Prigorje, Slavonia | |
| Sauvignon (bijeli) | Sauvignon Blanc Sauvignon blanc Sauvignon Blanc is a green-skinned grape variety which originates from the Bordeaux region of France. The grape most likely gets its name from the French word sauvage and blanc due to its early origins as an indigenous grape in South West France., a possible descendant of savagnin... |
Continental region, Istria, Croatian Coast |
| Silvanac zeleni | Silvaner Silvaner Sylvaner or Silvaner is a variety of white wine grape grown primarily in Alsace and Germany, where its official name is Grüner Silvaner. In Germany it is best known as a component of Liebfraumilch and production boomed in the 1970s to the detriment of quality, but it has long enjoyed a better... |
Throughout Continental region |
| Šipelj | Indigenous to NW Croatia | Pokuplje |
| Škrlet | Origin: Moslavina Moslavina Moslavina is a microregion in Croatia, administratively divided into the counties of Zagreb, Sisak-Moslavina and Bjelovar-Bilogora. The main city in the region in terms of traffic, commerce and business is the city of Kutina , with 24,000 citizens. Other important centres are Ivanić grad , Čazma,... |
Moslavina, Prigorje-Bilogora |
| Sušćan Crni | From Susak | Hrvatsko Primorje, esp. Susak, Lošinj and Cres |
| Traminac | Origin: northern Italy | Continental region |
| Traminac Mirisni | Gewürztraminer Gewürztraminer Gewürztraminer is an aromatic wine grape variety that performs best in cooler climates. It is sometimes referred to colloquially as Gewürz, and in French it is written '... |
Continental region |
| Trbljan bijeli | Kuč, Trebbiano romagnolo | Croatian Coast, North Dalmatia, Central & South Dalmatia |
| Trebbiano toscano | Istria, North Dalmatia, Central & South Dalmatia | |
| Verduzzo Verduzzo Verduzzo is a white Italian wine grape grown predominantly in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of northeast Italy. It is also found in significant plantings in the Piave Denominazione di origine controllata of the Veneto region... |
Istria | |
| Vugava | Origin: Vis Vis (island) Vis is the most outerly lying larger Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea, and is part of the Central Dalmatian group of islands, with an area of 90.26 km² and a population of 3,617 . Of all the inhabited Croatian islands, it is the farthest from the coast... . bugava, ugava, viškulja |
Central & South Dalmatia, esp. Vis |
| Zelenac | Zelinika | Plešivica, Slavonia, Zagorje-Međimurje |
| Žilavka | Originates from Herzegovina | Southern Dalmatia |
| Žlahtina | Origin: Croatian Coast | Istria, Croatian Coast, esp. Krk |
Red Wine Grapes
| Grape | Origin / Other names | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Alicante Bouschet Alicante Bouschet Alicante Bouschet or Alicante Henri Bouschet is a wine grape variety that has been widely cultivated since 1866. It is a cross of Petit Bouschet and Grenache. Alicante is a teinturier, a grape with red flesh. It is one of the few teinturier grapes that belong to the Vitis vinifera species... |
French hybrid of Grenache and Petit Bouschet | Moslavina, Podunavlje, Prigorje-Bilogora, Istria |
| Babić | Origin: around Primošten Primošten Primošten is a town in Croatia, and a part of the Šibenik-Knin County. It is situated in the south, between the cities of Šibenik and Trogir, on the Adriatic coast. 97.03% of the citizens are Croats.-History:... , Dalmatia Dalmatia Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south.... |
Croatian Coast, North Dalmatia, Central & South Dalmatia |
| Barbera Barbera Barbera is a red Italian wine grape variety that, as of 2000, was the third most-planted red grape variety in Italy . It produces good yields and is known for deep color, low tannins and high levels of acid... |
Istria | |
| Borgonja Crna | Cultivar of Gamay Gamay Gamay is a purple-colored grape variety used to make red wines, most notably grown in Beaujolais and in the Loire Valley around Tours. Its full name is Gamay Noir à Jus Blanc. It is a very old cultivar, mentioned as long ago as the 15th century... |
Istria |
| Cabernet Franc Cabernet Franc Cabernet Franc is one of the major black grape varieties worldwide. It is principally grown for blending with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the Bordeaux style, but can also be vinified alone - as in the Loire's Chinon... |
Moslavina, Podunavlje, Prigorje-Bilogora, Slavonia, Istria, North Dalmatia, Central & South Dalmatia | |
| Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates from Canada's Okanagan Valley to Lebanon's Beqaa Valley... |
Moslavina, Podunavlje, Prigorje-Bilogora, Slavonia, Istria, Croatian Coast, North Dalmatia, Dalmatian Interior, Central & South Dalmatia | |
| Carignan | North Dalmatia | |
| Crljenak Kaštelanski | Zinfandel Zinfandel Zinfandel is a variety of red grape planted in over 10 percent of California vineyards. DNA fingerprinting revealed that it is genetically equivalent to the Croatian grape Crljenak Kaštelanski, and also the Primitivo variety traditionally grown in Puglia , where it was introduced in the 18th century... , Primitivo, one parent of Plavac Mali Plavac Mali Plavac Mali, a cross between ancestral Zinfandel and Dobričić grapes, is the primary red wine grape grown along the Dalmatian coast of Croatia... |
Hvar, Pelješac but rarely grown |
| Dobričić Dobricic Dobričić is an ancient red wine grape variety from the island of Šolta off the Dalmatian coast in Croatia. It is one parent of the Plavac Mali red wine grape variety; the other one is Zinfandel, a grape variety also known as Crljenak Kaštelanski in Croatia, from where it originates.... |
Indigenous to Šolta, other parent of Plavac Mali Plavac Mali Plavac Mali, a cross between ancestral Zinfandel and Dobričić grapes, is the primary red wine grape grown along the Dalmatian coast of Croatia... |
Central & South Dalmatia, esp. Šolta |
| Drnekuša Drnekuša Drnekuša is an ancient red wine grape variety from the Dalmatian coast in Croatia. Rarely found, when it is grown, it is typically blended with Plavac Mali, giving a deep, ruby coloration typically to when Syrah is used as a blend. On the island of Hvar, one winery will sometimes release a wine... |
Darnekuša, Drnekuša Crna | Central & South Dalmatia, esp. Hvar |
| Frankovka | Blaufränkisch Blaufränkisch Blaufränkisch is a dark-skinned variety of grape used for red wine. Blaufränkisch, which is a late-ripening variety gives red wines which are typically rich in tannin and may exhibit a pronounced spicy character... , Kékfrankos, Lemberger, Frankonia |
Continental Region, Croatian Coast |
| Gamay bojadiser | Gamay Gamay Gamay is a purple-colored grape variety used to make red wines, most notably grown in Beaujolais and in the Loire Valley around Tours. Its full name is Gamay Noir à Jus Blanc. It is a very old cultivar, mentioned as long ago as the 15th century... |
Moslavina, Prigorje-Bilogora, Zagorje-Međimurje |
| Grenaš crni | Grenache Grenache Grenache is one of the most widely planted red wine grape varieties in the world. It ripens late, so it needs hot, dry conditions such as those found in Spain, the south of France, and California's San Joaquin Valley. It is generally spicy, berry-flavored and soft on the palate with a relatively... |
North Dalmatia, Dalmatian Interior |
| Hrvatica | Croatina Croatina Croatina is a red Italian wine grape variety that is grown primarily in the Oltrepò Pavese region of Lombardy and in the Province of Piacenza within Emilia Romagna, but also in parts of Piedmont and the Veneto. In the Oltrepò Pavese, in the hills of Piacenza, in Cisterna d’Asti and San Damiano... , Croattina, croatizza. Originates from North Italy |
Istria |
| Jarbola | Related to Hrvatica | Croatian Coast |
| Lasina | Origin: north Dalmatia | North Dalmatia (dessert wine prošek) |
| Lovrijenac | St Laurent | Moslavina, Plešivica, Pokuplje, Prigorje-Bilogora, Zagorje-Međimurje |
| Merlot Merlot Merlot is a darkly blue-coloured wine grape, that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name Merlot is thought to derive from the Old French word for young blackbird, merlot, a diminutive of merle, the blackbird , probably from the color of the grape. Merlot-based wines... |
Podunavlje, Pokuplje, Prigorje-Bilogora, Slavonia, Istria, Croatian Coast, North Dalmatia, Dalmatian Interior, Central & South Dalmatia | |
| Muškat ruža crni | Moscato delle rose nero, Muscat des roses noir, Rosenmuskateller blauer | Istria, Central & South Dalmatia |
| Nebbiolo | Italy | Croatian Coast |
| Ninčuša | Indigenous to Dalmatia | Dalmatian Interior, Central & South Dalmatia |
| Okatac | ružica crvena, glavinuša | Dalmatian Interior, Central & South Dalmatia |
| Pinot crni | Burgundac crni, Pinot noir Pinot Noir Pinot noir is a black wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. The name may also refer to wines created predominantly from Pinot noir grapes... |
Continental Region, Istria, Croatian Coast |
| Plavac Mali Plavac Mali Plavac Mali, a cross between ancestral Zinfandel and Dobričić grapes, is the primary red wine grape grown along the Dalmatian coast of Croatia... |
Origin: central and south Dalmatia. Pagadebit | Dalmatian Interior, Central & South Dalmatia |
| Plavina | Origin: Dalmatia. Plavka, Plajka, Brajda, Brajdica | Istria, Croatian Coast, North Dalmatia, Central & South Dalmatia |
| Portugizac | Blauer Portugieser Blauer Portugieser Blauer Portugieser is a red Austrian and German wine grape found primarily in the Rheinhessen, Pfalz and wine regions of Lower Austria. It is also one of the permitted grapes in the Hungarian wine Egri Bikavér . In Germany, the cultivated area covered or 4.5% of the total vineyard area in 2007... , Austria |
Continental Region |
| Refošk | Refosco Refosco Refosco is a very old Italian family of dark-skinned grape varieties native to the northern Italian areas of Friuli, Gavi, Trentino, Istria, and Karst Plateau. It is considered autochthonous in these regions.... Origin: Italy. |
Istria |
| Sušćan crni | Sansigot, sujćan, tvardo grozje, sanseg | Croatian Coast, North Dalmatia esp Susac, Lošinj, Cres |
| Svrdlovina crna | Galica | North Dalmatia |
| Syrah | Shiraz | Slavonia, Istria, Croatian Coast, North Dalmatia, Dalmatian Interior |
| Teran | Terrano Terrano (grape) Terrano or Teran is a Slovenian dark-skinned grape varieties. It is a member of the Refosco family of grape varieties, which also includes Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso.... |
Istria |
| Tocai Friulano | Istria | |
| Trnjak | Rudežuša | Dalmatian Interior, Central & South Dalmatia |
| Vranac | Vranec Vranec Vranec or Vranac is an ancient variety of grape that is indigenous to the Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo and Montenegro. Vranec is considered the most important variety of grape in Montenegro and one of the most important in the Republic of Macedonia... |
North Dalmatia |
| Zadarka crna | North Dalmatia | |
| Zweigelt Zweigelt Zweigelt is a red wine grape variety developed in 1922, at the Federal Institute for Viticulture and Pomology at Klosterneuburg, Austria, by Fritz Zweigelt. It was a crossing of St. Laurent and Blaufränkisch. It is now the most widely-grown red grape variety in Austria, as well as having some... |
Continental Region |
Classification
In 1961, Dingač and then in 1967, Postup were registered for Yugoslav state protection.The Croatian Institute of Viticulture and Enology was set up in 1996 to oversee the country's wine industry, and be responsible for regulating wine-growing and wine production. Standards, similar to the EU wine regulations
European Union wine regulations
European Union wine regulations are common legislation related to wine existing within the European Union , the member states of which account for almost two-thirds of the world's wine production...
were set up, to ensure the consistent quality of the final product.
- Vrhunsko Vino: Premium Quality Wine
- Kvalitetno Vino: Quality Wine
- Stolno Vino: Table Wine
In addition, wines may qualify for a geographical origin stamp, if it is produced from grapes grown in the same wine-growing region. The definition becomes stricter for higher quality classifications, so that a premium quality wine with geographical origin stamp must meet criteria for the type of grape, the position in the vinogorije (wine-growing hill) with the distinct quality and characteristics for the varietal.
If the wine has a grape varietal stamp, it must be at least 85% of the grape type whose name it carries. Distinctive quality wines are the wines that have a special quality, attained in certain years, in special conditions of maturation, manner of harvesting and processing, and have to be produced only from the recommended sorts of grape for the particular wine-growing hills.
Wines qualifying for a vintage designation, known as Arhiv must be kept in cellar conditions longer than its optimal maturation period, and not less than 5 years from the day of processing grape into wine, of which at least 3 years in a bottle.
- Suho: Dry
- Polusuho: Semi-dry
- Slatko: Sweet
- Bijelo: White
- Crno: Red (literally Black)
- Rosa: Rose
- ProšekProšekProšek is a sweet dessert wine that is traditionally from the southern area of Dalmatia, Croatia. It is made using dried wine grapes in the passito method. Good quality Prošek is usually much more expensive by volume than other wines due to an average of seven times more grapes being needed to...
: Dalmatian dessert wine made from dried grapes. Similar to Italian Vin SantoVin santoVin Santo or Vino Santo is a style of Italian dessert wine. Traditional in Tuscany, these wines are often made from white grape varieties such as Trebbiano and Malvasia, though Sangiovese may be used to produce a rosé style known as Occhio di Pernice or eye of the partridge...
See also
- Globalisation of WineGlobalization of wine"Globalization is the expansion of brands across nations and into other continents. In food and wine it refers to the whole problem of making the product global. The primary issue is scaling production while reducing the costs of goods with processes. In marketing it refers to wearing the mantle of...
- Grape Varieties
- History of WineHistory of wineThe history of wine spans thousands of years and is closely intertwined with the history of agriculture, cuisine, civilization and humanity itself...
- Old World WineOld World wineOld World wine refers primarily to wine made in Europe but can also include other regions of the Mediterranean basin with long histories of winemaking such as North Africa and the Near East. The phrase is often used in contrast to "New World wine" which refers primarily to wines from New World wine...