Croatia for Wine Lovers – Top Local Wines

While Croatia is renowned for its history, architecture, captivating landscape and delicious gastronomy, this wonderfully hospitable country has a little something else up its sleeve as well: its exceptional wines. With a history of wine production dating back some 2,500 years, holidays to Croatia are the perfect opportunity for dedicated oenophiles to sample the many varieties produced in the continental and coastal regions.

Viticulture was introduced to the country by the Phoenicians or the Ancient Greek settlers and, today, the nation produces around 50,000 tonnes of wine annually – much of it for the domestic market. Two thirds of the country's wine production is whites, primarily coming from the inland regions, but its reds, although with less range, are just as impressive.

Wonderful Whites

Matoševi 2008 Grimalda: A blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Istrian Malvasia grapes (one of 84 types of malvasias), this barrel-aged white comes from the renowned Matoševi winery, in central Istria. Its acidic, medium bodied dryness is resonant of a Californian chardonnay, and there are pleasant overtones of peach and floral notes.

BIBICh Winery's 2008 Lu ica: Made from 100% Debit grapes, which are grown along the northern and central coast of Dalmatia, this complex wine comes from one of the oldest and most respected vineyards in the country: the 500 year old BIBIch winery, at Plastevo. Using unpressed grapes, the wine is aged in oak for 16 months to achieve its dry, medium-bodied, slightly salty finish. With delicate notes of peach, vanilla and rosemary, the 2008 Lu ica is viscous and pleasantly aromatic.

Sladi Winery's 2009 Marastina: This wine produced from the Marastina grape has a unique taste and oily texture that marries perfectly with the fantastic seafood of Croatia. The Marastina is grown all along the Dalmatian Coast, with the grapes for this wine coming from the Krka National Park. Produced in the vineyards of the Sladi Winery, near Skradin, the dry, full-bodied, aromatic flavour of the wine is infused with overtones of almonds, honey and fruit.

Rich Reds

Krauthaker Winery's 2008 Pinot Crni: Wine experts will know that the country is not known for its pinot, but this wine, produced from 100% Pinot Noir grapes, is exceptional in quality. The grapes for the wine were grown in the Pozega Valley, in the Slavonia region, which sits on the same longitude as Burgundy, the renowned French wine growing region. The dry, light-bodied 2008 Pinot Crni is soft on the palette, with a pleasant smoky flavour and overtones of roses, cherries and plums.

Matuško Winery's 2007 Dingac: While this wine is better decanted, its rich, earthy flavours make for very pleasant drinking. Made from 100% Plavac Mali grape, grown in the Dingac region on the Dalmatian Peljesac Peninsula, the wine is not as easy to find as some of the more costly Dingac wines, but well worth the effort. Full-bodied and extremely dry, the balanced flavour is augmented by overtones of dark fruit and chocolate.

Franc Arman Winery's 2007 Teran Barrique: As the first winery to age the Istrian Teran grape in oak barrels, the team at Franc Arman have produced a full-bodied, aromatic dry red. Its medium tannins pair beautifully with heavy meat dishes, but it's also smooth enough to enjoy without food. Dark, fruity and with exotic spicy flavours of cloves and nutmeg, the 2007 Teran Barrique does this renowned grape justice in the most enjoyable way.

For those on holidays to Croatia planning to schedule in a spot (or a lot) of wine tasting, these recommended red and white varietals offer a good taster.