"On the island of Vis a wine is produced that no other wine equals."
Athenaios (Ancient Greek writer)
Global success of Croatian wines
1999 excellent wines produced by Andro Tomic made the front cover of the May issue of La Revue du Vin de France
2004 Ivan Enjingi, a Slavonian wine producer, was declared the absolute world champion in the category of coupaged white wines costing up to £10 per bottle by the most influential world wine magazine, the British Decanter.
At the 2005 Decanter World Championship, Enjingi again won several medals, as did the great producer of Slavonian wines, PPK Kutjevo.
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There are not many countries that can boast such a variety of wines. Croatia produces nearly 700 registered wines. In the harsher, more arid continental part of Croatia, more than 90 percent of the wine produced is white. In coastal areas, the main attraction is red wines , some of which are very outstanding. Just under 10 percent of production is classified as superior wine, a little under 70 percent as quality and around 25 percent as table wine. The Dalmatian wines belong to the best wines because of plenty of sunshine and rocky soils (limestone and red earth-terra rossa).
Some of the premium wines are Malvazija from Buje; Muscatel Ottonel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from Porec; Teran from Buzet, Zlahtina from Vrbnik, Babic from Primosten, Plavac from Bol, Postup Donja Banda, Dingac (a thick red wine with 15-16% of alcohol) from Peljesac and Posip and Grk (14-15% of alcohol) from Korcula. Other well–known wines are Graševina, Chardonnay, Rhine Riesling and established wines from Kutjevo, Rhine Riesling and Graševina (Enjingi), Grasevina (Krauthaker), Frankovka from Orahovica; Rhine Riesling, Traminac and Chardonnay from Ilok. For a sweeter, liqueur like dessert wine try Prosek, very smooth, light wine drank after dinner or sometimes as an aperitif.
PLAVAC MALI is an offshoot of the true Zinfandel wine grapes. Most of the wine world agrees that the Zinfandel variety is a native Dalamatian grape variety, although Italy was long thought to be the place where it originated. The coastal red wines produced from this grape are bringing the most attention and awards from the international wine community.
CARSKO VINO (Emperor's wine) is a specially processed selection of famous (first-class) wine POSTUP. A legend says that this selected wine from the peninsula of Peljesac was drunk at Austro-Hungarian emperor's court in Vienna.
POSIP - CARA is a famous (first-class) wine made of the grape sorts bearing the same name, cultivated exclusively on the island of Korcula, in the locality of Cara. It distinguishes itself for its specific taste and aroma which are the consequences of ideal climatic conditions, specific soil and grape sorts. According to tradition, in 11th century, the inhabitants of Cara headed by sisters and brothers Crnomiri, came into conflict with Venetian prince-regent of the island of Korcula, because they were not willing to give their fertile vineyards as tribute. In the battle that followed the Venetian prince was killed.
PROSECCO DIOCLETIAN is a traditional Dalmatian natural desert wine, distilled from the most famous sorts of dry grapes. According to a legend, the Roman emperor Diocletian found great delight in drinking this wine, when in 303 A.D, he abdicated and went to live in his palace in Split. This pleasant dessert of a dark-copper colour with an aroma of matured grapes. It is usually served with desserts and well-cooled, with a slice of lemon, it is a delicious refreshment during the Summer.
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