If I’m honest, I went to our wine club’s Croatian wine tasting thinking it would be interesting but I wouldn’t love the wines.
I came away having decided to go to Croatia as soon as possible.
We tasted six wines so I can’t guarantee a completely accurate recollection of the last two (we don’t do the spittoon thing). All the wines were from Croatian Fine Wines.
Firstly, I thought all the wines were incredibly good value. And delicious.
Croatian winemaking is having a resurgence after taking a massive hit during the war when so many of its vineyards were destroyed. It’s winning awards – 63 medals in the 2016 Decanter awards. It has a huge number of indigenous grapes as well as the usual varietals (Chardonnay, Cab Sauv etc). If you come across Croatian wines on a wine list, here are some ideas of wines to try.
Sparkling:
Sparkling wine is fairly unusual in Croatia. We tried a Veralda Rose Brut Cremant, made from the indigenous grape Refosco, which was lovely, if frighteningly easy to knock back. It tasted of strawberry juice ( in a good way) and is a perfect summer fizz. £17.
Whites:
We had a delicious Malvazija from Istria, where most of Croatia’s wine is produced. It was grassy and fresh, without the sharpness of a Sauvignon Blanc. If you like Gavi di Gavi and Albariño you’ll love this. It’s around £13.50.
Then we tried a 2014 Grasevina, which has won a silver medal at the International Wine Awards. It was much more rounded and fruity, and almost tasted like a dry Sauternes – there was a hint of sweetness on the finish. It’s the most widely planted grape in Croatia. It was amazing with a soft Gorgonzola. At around £10 it’s a bargain.
The surprise for me was the Zdjelarević Chardonnay which was lovely for around £14. Rounded and apply.
Reds:
We tried a Franc Arman Teran Barrique, also from Istria. It’s not cheap at £21 but it was very good – full bodied with rich berry fruits and a bit of oakiness.
But my favourite wine of the night was a 2011 Plavac Mali that tasted overwhelmingly of chocolate, with hints of cherry and pepper. Quite tannic (but still deliciously smooth). It’s close to a Primitivo in style so if you like that, you’ll love this. Also not cheap, but well worth the £23.
In summary – great value, unusual wines and definitely a country to explore.
