Did you know that Croatia is making some of the most exciting wines in the world? This beautiful land of mountains and highlands with an Adriatic coastline has hosted a wine culture dating back at least 2,500 years. The country now boasts over 800 wineries, 20,000 winemakers, and 64 distinct grape types, many of which are indigenous and have been cultivated for centuries in Croatia.
However, with names like Pošip, Plavac Mali, and Babić, Croatian grape varieties can be hard to remember and pronounce. But don’t let that intimidate you—these are wines that are worth the extra effort.
Map courtesy of Wine Folly.
Croatia has four main wine regions, each with different climates, geographical features, traditions, and local grape varieties: Dalmatia, Istria and Kvarner, Croatian Uplands, and Slavonia and Danube. In each locality, you will find wine that expresses the unique Croatian terroirs.
The Land of Good Wine
Some of the most beautiful Croatian wines come from Istria, a peninsula at the northwestern end of the country’s Adriatic coastline. The region, still largely undiscovered by the world’s wine-drinking population, is one of Croatia’s most important wine growing areas.
Almost fully surrounded by the sea, Istria enjoys a lovely Mediterranean climate with superb growing conditions for vines. Most of the wineries are located in western Istria, with the majority being small, family-owned farms. The locals’ pride in their wine can be found on the area’s road signs stating, “Istria, the land of good wine.”
Istria’s leading white grape is Istria Malvasia,
This Article was originally published on The Wine Chef
