Wines
Kosovec Winery: A Completely Different Škrlet Story
PopovačaIvan Kosovec decided to treat Škrlet somewhat differently, and really made a boom among wine geeks with his Škrlet Selekcija label. It’s a roller coaster ride for your palate!
Drink Pink: Rosé Wines for Spring/Summer 2013
Istria, Dalmatia, Continental CroatiaTen years ago passable rosé wines in Croatia were as numerous as the population of zebras. Now the situation is quite different. Here are some of our old and new favourites for spring/summer 2013.
Split Circus: Rakija by Crazy People
SplitLocated in the ghetto neighborhood of Diocletian palace, this may be the smallest but craziest joint in town with a tempting selection of rakija (local grappa) offered in more than 25 smashing flavours at 9-15 kn a pop!
Agrolaguna: Mightiest Wine Producer in Istria
PorečAgrolaguna has raised the standards in recent years and started taking wine business seriously, aiming to have both quality and quantity. Their line-up today covers all the basic stuff Istria has to offer, often excellent value for money.
Label Grand Karakterre: Prvi hrvatski sajam ručno rađenih vina
Apetit City, ZagrebAko dođete druge godine na Karakterr uvjerit ćete se da “prirodna” vina nisu u prvom redu podražaji za nos i nepce. Prije ih bi se moglo opisati kao stimulans za desnu stranu mozga, onu emotivnu i sintetičku.
Bibich: Celebration of Mediterranean hospitality
SkradinAlen Bibić is a real visionary. He built a successful private winery in secluded Dalmatian hinterland, used underrated local varieties to make high-quality labels and he was one of the first exporters of Croatian wine to the USA.
Bijelo u boji
Pojam “organska-biodinamička-prirodna vina” s kojim se u zadnje vrijeme srećemo širom planeta lingvistički je sklop koji u jednu kategoriju pokušava strpati sve nekonvencionalne načine proizvodnje vina. Bez obzira što je kovanica na rubu logike jer su razlike između pojedinih pristupa …
Wine friendship cake: Recipe that pairs massive Plavac Mali wines & desserts
MakarskaLast May Taste of Croatia team gave a workshop on Dalmatia Wine Expo in Makarska where we paired massive Plavac Mali wines with a dessert we specially designed for these feral beasts in the glass. Here is the recipe.
Korta Katarina: Anderson’s tale from Pelješac
Orebić, PelješacKorta Katarina (KK) is the pet project of American business mogul Lee Anderson and it is apparent that no expense has been spared in the construction of this state-of-the-art winery, which produced its first vintage in 2006.
Antunović: Five Star Wines in Slavonia
DaljThough Jasna inherited a centuries-old family winemaking tradition, it was only eight years ago that she formally entered the noble craft . Without mincing words, we can say that she has quite decisively nullified the notion that only men are blessed with the ability to make fine wines.
VINO & INO: wine bar & concept store
ŠibenikBringing life back to Šibenik downtown
Wine & Cheese bar Paradox: Enter the Cheese!
SplitOver 90 Croatian wines by the glass, over 20 types of cheese offered daily in a cosy atmosphere!
Peninsula Wine bar & shop
Donja BandaWines from the Peljesac peninsula at reasonable prices! Plus wine tastings and parties.
Lipanović: Vugava from Tito’s bunkers
VisLocated on the mysterious island of Vis, this winery is cleverly housed in a cave that was once an army installation during the time of Tito; a historical reminder bringing you back to Vis´ time of almost 50 years of isolation.
7 Northern Dalmatian Summer Wines
SkradinWe have found 7 resfreshing bottles in Plastovo, the home of three excellent winemakers: Alen Bibić, Marko Sladić and Marinko/Juraj Sladić. After Anthony Bourdain’s visit of Bibich winery this small village just few kilometers from Skradin is on the way to become world famous.
Great Croatian wines under 60 kn (8€)
Zagreb, Rijeka, ZadarWho says you need to spend a fortune for a good (Croatian) wine?! To overcome that prejudice, we decided to make a list of budget-friendly Croatian wines you should try with family & friends.
Muškat Ruža: Whispering Beauty
MomjanTakvu kompleksnu i zahtjevnu personu, koje se ne želi isticati, u ruke mora uzeti istinski zaljubljenik. Vinar oboružan strpljenjem, ljubavlju i znanjem izvući će iz nje samo najljepše tonove i pokazati svijetu koliko je slijep kad trči za drugima.
Cossetto: Istrian Reds Get a Woman’s Touch
KaštelirAs I leave, everything becomes crystal clear. In this small village above Mirna river valley, female touch managed to push a small family winery beyond the tradition, creating a style that makes Cossetto wines so easy to understand and recognize.
Miloš: Powerful big reds from Pelješac
Pelješac peninsulaFrano Miloš is one of the pioneers of family owned boutique wineries not only in his Pelješac, probably the most prestigious wine region in Croatia, but in the whole country.
Vuina Winery: Wines with a local signature
Kaštel ŠtafilićFamily Vuina comes from Kaštela near Split, surely not one of the most famous winemaking locations in Croatia. But Neven Vuina will prove you wrong.
Benvenuti: Elegant Istrian Malvasia in Motovun surroundings
MotovunBenvenuti brothers are famous for their Istrian Malvasia cultivated on the white soil rich in clay and limestone.
Zdjelarević: Energetic Sauvignon from Hills Above Sava River
Brodski StupnikIf you’re heading to Slavonski Brod from the west, driving on the old road, just before you get there, you’ll see a sign Vinska cesta Brodskog Stupnika – Wine Road of Brodski Stupnik. It would be a shame not to turn left into the vineyards.
6 reasons why Teran is the next Istrian flagship wine
IstriaThis is not the story about the inevitable success of Malvasia in the near future. It is about Teran red wine, another great potential that is currently hiding in Istrian vineyards. The following facts make me believe that Teran will be a new born star in the Istrian wine galaxy…
Enjingi: Slavonian That Put Croatia on Global Wine Map
VetovoThis great Croatian winemaker acted like Don Quijote in many situations, paving the way for his wine brothers.
Radovan: World-Class Merlot with Istrian Dialect
RadovaniRadovan’s red wines are not only fair priced but are also among the best in Croatia. His Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Teran are characterized by nice extract that is never tiring, it is always elegantly balanced with freshness and minerality, the latter originating from red earth soil – Terra Rossa.
Bartolović: King of Slavonian Superb Reds
PožegaNon-typical for the area where he has vineyards, considered the Croatian kingdom of Graševina, Krunoslav Bartolović based his wine philosophy in Golden Valley on red wines. More precisely, on Syrah/Shiraz, in which he fell in love 12 years ago during his visit to Australia.
Sontachi Winery: Drink Kitokret to Become President
KutjevoConnoisseurs claim that Krunoslav Sontacchi from Kutjevo is the most promising name on Croatian wine scene. In any case, he is the greatest wine fanatic, but also the only one who can say that his dog Spačko lives in – a wine barrel!
Vuglec Breg: Sparkling Wine from Zagorje Hills
LepajciBoris Vuglec invested a lot of money, energy and knowledge to prove that wines from Zagorje can be of high quality. He succeeded in convincing us!
Kozlović: Wine drinkers’ kindergarten and PhD school
MomjanThe new Kozlović winery is a must-visit not only for every wine enthusiast but also for everyone interested to see a beautiful example of the marriage of modern architecture and nature.
Korak Wines: Keepers of Plešivica tradition
JastrebarskoTheir ancestors bestowed them with the best vineyard positions, so Velimir Korak feels that by producing the best wines they honour their heritage.
Duboković: Boutique Wines from Hvar
Duboković Wines Review Duboković, “prije 6009 godina” 2009 – Score 87 Deep, dark red colour. Pleasant aroma, mostly spices. Tobacco and mild oak are the dominant aromas in the beginning. Soon the aroma opens towards more modern spice notes like …
Is there a decent, budget-friendly sparkling wine from Croatia?
Although the recession is all around, it is unthinkable for an average Croat to welcome the New Year without hearing the pop from a bottle of sparkling wine. Twenty years ago, on the market there was only Bakarska Vodica, which …
Great Croatian wines under 100 kn (15€)
Zagreb, Rijeka, ZadarIn case you want to spend a bit more, reward either yourself or your friends and family, here are our suggestions for great Croatian wines under 100 kn (15 €).
Sirotić: Hearty wines spiced up by Butoniga Lake terroir
BuzetLonely hamlet of Medveje is situated on the green hills that surround Butoniga Lake from the north, some 13 km south from Buzet. This place, far from any main road, is worth visiting not only because of the idyllic landscape and …
Buhač: Best-buy Croatian Cab comes from Srijem
IlokThe first who started planting red grape varieties in Ilok was Domagoj Buhač, the owner of Buhač winery, who from his 19 hectares gets about 100.0000 L of wine. He is mostly known for his Merlot that is considered as the best buy red wine in Croatia.
Capo – New Force to Be Reckoned With
Capo Winery is the new player on Croatian wine scene, with serious ambitions to join the Istrian elite already after the first harvest. Located in Fernetići, close to Brtonigla, most vineyards are near the village and the winery. The vineyards …
2009 Boškinac Gegić from the island of Pag
Novalja, Pag islandReview by our friend and passionate wine enthusiast eNOgAStrObRUtaL. A rare wine indigenous to Pag island. And a perfect companion to Pag cheese. 14,7 % vol Gegić is an indigenous grape variety cultivated only on the island of Pag and …
Meneghetti: World-class blends with Istrian character
BaleIt is nice to see that Stancija Meneghetti is not just another luxury holiday villa for clientele with deep pockets but also a place where outstanding extra virgin olive oils and innovative wines (innovative because in Istria winemakers are somewhat novice in the art of blending) are being produced.
2010 Saints Hills “St. Heels”: Autumn rosé
ZagrebThis muscled rosé handled intense duck flavors with ease and its strong minerality washed out the fat in our mouths so efficiently that the duck disappeared in a glimpse.
Kozlović Malvazija Santa Lucia – Vertical Tasting
This vertical tasting of Santa Lucia was done at two separate occasions. The first one took place on 26 November 2010 with journalists from the American Wine Enthusiast Jeff Jenssen and Mike Desimon in the winery itself, and the second …
Rossi: Rustic and traditional meets high tech
VižinadaRossi family doesn’t have only long standing tradition in winemaking. In their vineyard you’ll find a high tech meteorological station capable of forecasting few days in advance the attack of various vine diseases.
Grabovac winery: The Power of Imotski Valley
ImotskiGrabovac family owns the biggest and most successful private winery in Imotski area. No wonder, knowing that the art of wine making has been running in the family for some 200 years.
Luka Krajančić: Poetry in wine
Čara, Korčula islandLuka is the man who will surely take the credit when Pošip, the pride of Korčula winemaking, shoots to fame outside Croatia. Combination of low yield per vine and modern vinification techniques creates wines with a polished international style, which …
British Verdict on Croatian Wines
Recently this summer, a renowned British wine critics quintet called the Wine Gang visited Croatia, hosted by the Wine Department of Croatian Chamber of Commerce. They had a thorough tasting of wines from all Croatian regions in Zagreb, and then …
Bire winery and agritourism: Renaissance of Grk
Korčula islandFrano Milina Bire has a beautiful family farm on a peaceful, isolated location near Lumbarda on the island of Korčula. He started with organized tours and dinners for tourists, offering them a taste of local produce like goat cheese, dry-cured ham, organic vegetables, sugared almonds, olive oil, brandies and wine.
Damjanić: Char-grilled sardines and Borgonja, a perfect match
FuškulinIvan Damjanić is a young 30-something winemaker whose wines are more famous in Croatian capital Zagreb than in Istria. He proudly tells me that he owns most of the vineyards I can see from his house in a small hilltop …
Ljetni uzlet rosea
Rose definitivno ulazi u modu. Hvala bogu. Nakon više desetljeća zanemarivanja ovog jedinstvenog stila i sukladno tome mizernog tržišnog udjela koji često nije prelazio niti 1% stvari se napokon mijenjaju. I to koracima od sedam gora. Do jučer kategorija potpuno …
Winery Dvanajščak-Kozol: Međimurje idyll
Lopatinec, ČakovecWinery Dvanajščak-Kozol is one of the younger and smaller ones in Međimurje, where more or less everything is already small and lo-fi by default, but in a positive way. Visit this friendly family on the sunniest hill in the area …
Dešković: The home of Motovunski Teran
GrožnjanEven thirty years ago everybody knew that the best terroir for Teran is on the hills near Motovun, where Dešković winery and agritourism is settled.
Clai: Natural wines from the most passionate Istrian winemaker
BujeEvery Istrian winemaker will agree, Giorgio Clai is the most passionate winemaker on the peninsula, whose wines can be found in top restaurants of New York and San Francisco.
