Croatian wine

Croatian wine is increasingly known. Croatia is truly a special country, made up of sophisticated continental landscapes and the beautiful Adriatic coast, with 1246 islands. This small country is like a necklace, abundant in different kinds of pearls, growing surrounded by the inspiring beauty of this land.

As the sun-drenched land that stretches along the glittering Adriatic coast, Croatia has quietly and skillfully produced wines of exceptional quality for centuries. The vineyards, nourished by the Mediterranean climate and nestled between ancient stone walls, tell stories of tradition mixed with innovation.

Croatian wines are not just drinks; they are whispers of the country's soul, waiting to be discovered by the modern enthusiast. Dive into a world of sophistication aroma's and enchanting flavors; Croatia invites you to a wine tour like no other.

Croatian Wine: Tradition Meets Passion

Croatia has a long and proud tradition of viticulture, with over hundreds of indigenous grape varieties grown all over the country. Wines from Croatia are known for their unique character and taste, making them some of the most sought after wines in Europe. The wine regions of Croatia have been producing high quality wines since Roman times.

Croatia's geography and climate have contributed greatly to the development of viticulture. With the Adriatic coastline on one side and rugged mountains on the other, the country offers a rich mosaic of microclimates ideal for growing a variety of grape varieties, both indigenous and international.

What makes Croatian wines special is the harmonious blend of old world traditions and modern techniques. Many winemakers stick to age-old methods, such as using large wooden barrels or aging wine in stone cellars. At the same time, they also embrace new technologies and insights, resulting in wines that are both authentic and innovative.

The power of tradition is most clearly seen in the continuation of native grape varieties such as Plavac Mali, Posip en Graševina. These varieties, unique to Croatia, provide a direct link to the country's historical past and are a crucial part of its cultural and culinary heritage.

In a glass Croatian wine one not only tastes the rich flavors and aroma's, but also the passion, pride and deep tradition of a people who consider wine as an inseparable part of their identity.

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Croatian wine regions

Croatian wines are grown in three wine-growing regions – the coastal regions, the continental eastern and continental western regions, divided into twelve sub-regions. The climatic regions here are Mediterranean and Temperate Continental, with three distinct microclimatic zones suitable for wine production, with the corresponding soils, giving the wines excellence and their essential distinction.

In addition to the exceptionally suitable climate for wine production, Croatia has numerous indigenous wine grape varieties that are used to produce wines of unique taste and high quality. All leading internationally recognized wine grape varieties are represented in Croatian viticulture and wine production, and the climate gives them their strong individual quality.

The end result is the production of more than 600 different wines in smaller or larger series. That is therefore a good reason to enjoy the distinctive wines and refined dishes here at the source.

Number of facts about Croatian wine

• Number of wineries: 17.000
• Area of ​​wine region in Croatia: 33.000 hectares
• Vineyards producing wines of controlled origin: 800
• Croatian wine of verified origin: 2.500
• The total production of wine from Croatia of controlled origin: 61 million litres
• Share per wine region Croatia in hectares:
  • Continental Croatia: 49%
  • Croatian coastal area: 51%
• Regional share of the number of wine producers:
  • Continental Croatia 32%
  • Croatian coastal area 68%
• Number of cultivated grape varieties: 200
• Number of native grape varieties: 60
• Major wine varieties:
  • Graševina
  • Isstarska Malvasia / Istrian Malvasia
  • Plavac mali
  • Posip
  • Teran

The history of vineyards and growing grape wine in Croatia has its roots in ancient times, even before Christ. Given that Croatia is located in a zone with favorable
conditions for growing wine grapes, and different climatic conditions, there is a wide variety of cultivars (grape varieties), some of which are specific to the area in Croatia.

Three major grape varieties account for 47% of the total production of the wine regions in Croatia!

The Best wine from Croatia

In Croatia, wine and wine have been used for thousands of years olive oil This long tradition has ensured that top quality wine is made in Croatia. The Best wine from Croatia have been awarded more often, including the Graševina, Plavac Mali and the Posip.

Different grape varieties

The wines from Croatia are rich in history and the grape varieties are plentiful. However, Croatian wines on the international market are relatively new and therefore many people have still not had the chance to taste our wines taste and become familiar with Croatian wines.

There are more than a hundred indigenous grape varieties in Croatia. Jancis Robinson in her book “Wine Grapes” identifies 1.368 varieties, of which 39 are Croatian native species.

It is interesting that in Croatia you can find all five possible wine-growing zones. These zones are determined by the temperature and the number of hours of sunshine, which is why we are proud to offer a very rich palette of grape varieties. In Croatia, these five zones are divided into three wine-growing areas.

What are the wine regions in Croatia?

There are several wine regions in Croatia. These can be conveniently divided into two major wine regions of Croatia, the wine regions in continental Croatia and the wine regions on the Croatian coast.

The wine regions in the interior of Croatia are mainly located in the North-East around the Danube, Slavonia and central Croatia. The wine regions on the Adriatic are located in Istria, the Kvarner and Dalmatia.

In both wine regions of Croatia, several wines are made from real Croatian grape varieties. The best wines from Croatia like the Graševina, Plavac Mali and the Posip have won several awards worldwide.

Continental Croatia is divided into 4 major regions and 7 sub-regions:

• Danube Region / Podunavlje (po-du-naw-lie)
• Slavonia / Slavonia (lettuce-wo-nia)
• Central Croatia / Središnja Hrvatska (sre-dish-nia hr-wat-ska)
  • Moslavina Hills / Moslavina (mo-sla-wi-na)
  • Kupa river region / Pokuplje (po-kup-lie)
  • Plesivica Hills / Plesivica (ple-shi-wi-tsa)
• North-West Croatia / Sjeverozapadna Hrvatska (sie-we-ro za-pad-na hr-what-ska)
  • Zagorje and Međimurje (za-gor-ie; me-dji-mur-ie)
  • Prigorje and Bilogora (pri-gor-ie; bilò-gora)

The Croatian coast is divided into 3 main regions and 5 sub-regions:

• Istria / istra (is-tra)
• Croatian coastal region / Hrvatsko primorje (hr-what-sko pri-mor-ié)
• Dalmatia / Dalmaciya (dal-ma-tsia), consisting of:
  • North-Dalmatia
  • Central and SouthDalmatia
  • Dalmatian inland / Dalmatinska Zagora

Wine regions Dalmatia

Dalmatia is known for its world famous wine such as the Plavac mali (eg Dingach), Posip, Babić and many more genuine Croatian grape varieties. Dalmatia is further divided into a number of sub-regions. Posip from Korcula en Plavac mali from Hvar have won several awards.

More about wine from Dalmatia

Wine regions Istria

Croatian wine from IstriaWine has been made in for centuries Istria. The history of viticulture in this Croatian peninsula dates back to Greek and Roman times. Viticulture in Istria is a thousand-year-old tradition and builds on a favorable climate. Istria is known for one of the most prominent and best wine from Croatia.

More about wine from Istria

Slavonia

Wines from Slavonia are among the most underrated in Croatia. The region is known for its white wines, which are made from indigenous grape varieties such as the famous Grasevina wine. The wines from Slavonia are known for their full body and complex flavor profiles. If you are looking for a delicious red or White wine for your next meal, be sure to try a wine Slavonia!

 

Kvarner

The history of vineyards and viticulture in Croatia goes back to ancient times. There are different climatic conditions and there is a wide variety of cultivars. Some are specific to the Croatian area, so it was determined that they are Croatian native varieties.

The Croatian coast is an area where the culture of grape growing and wine production is very old, but also for other reasons (excellent location for the vines, developed maritime ties with the world)
was the most developed. A large number of autochthonous grape varieties has also been recorded, with the authors of the time listing and describing the number of several hundred autochthonous varieties. This is an extremely large number even at that time, so the Croatian coast is rightly counted among the most developed European wine-growing regions.

The most important scientific and professional results have shown that today in Croatia you can find a large number of indigenous varieties (about 130). Of that number are today in the Kvarner area as wine flagships Jarbola, Kastafska Belica and Žlahtina.

Croatian wine and traditional methods

Many vineyards still use traditional methods to make exceptional wines that "terroir" and reflect the climate of each region. With its beautiful landscapes, vibrant culture and delicious cuisine, Croatia is becoming an increasingly popular destination for wine lovers who want to discover new tastes.

From dry white wines made from local varieties such as Posip of Graševina to full red wines as Plavac Mali of Dingach aged in oak barrels, Croatian winemakers offer something for everyone. Whether you're interested in old classics or something more modern and experimental, there's no shortage of excellent options when it comes to Croatian wines. So why not take a sip of history today and discover all that Croatian wine has to offer?