Dingac, Postup, Plavac, Posip, Grasevina... These are just some of the best types of wine you can find in Croatia. The first three are red, strong (because of the Mediterranean sun), and Dalmatian. Posip and Grasevina are white. The first is from the island of Korcula, the second, a sort of Riesling, is from the North of Croatia, the region of Slavonia, in the rich Pannonian plain that was, like Dalmatia, part of the Roman Empire.
In Croatia, vineyards are an old tradition, especially in the southern islands where they existed already 2.500 years ago, thanks to the Greeks. And perhaps even before: it seems that the oldest inhabitants of Dalmatia, the Illyrians, that couldn't write, were able to make and to appreciate wine. According recent research, the famous Californian "Zinfandel", comes perhaps from them and is a cousin of the Dalmatian "Crljenak Kastelanski" and the "Primitivo" from the Italian Apuglia, across the sea.
Plavac Mali, a Cousin Of Zinfandel, Primitivo And Crljenak
If you have a meal with a Dalmatian family, you will probably have to choose between a glass of wine or a "bevanda" that means "a drink" in Italian and is a mixture of red wine with water. In the North of the country, they will propose you a "gemist" (from the German Gemischt), as in Austria, a glass of white wine with sparkling water. The purpose of this "cocktail" is not only to have a long drink but, at least in the case of the "bevanda", originally, the aim was to disinfect the water that, especially on the islands, was rainwater from wells. But wine is not just a medicine. In the Middle Age, already, there were rules in the free towns as, for instance, in 1214, in Korcula, that protected the quality of the local wines. During the two centuries (in the fifteenth and the sixteenth) under the Turks (they invaded more than the half of the today's Croatia) that prohibited alcohol, the vineyards survived thanks to the catholic priests because they needed wine to celebrate Mass...
Later, wine became one of the most important product of the agriculture, in the continental as well as in the coastal Croatia.
In the North, between the rivers Drava, Sava and the Danube, in the Pannonian plain, but also in Istria, the Nord of the Croatian Adriatic coast, the most important wines are quite always white (like the refreshing Zlahtina of the island of Krk), very similar to the Austrian and Nord East Italian wines. There are no borders for vineyards!
Later, wine became one of the most important product of the agriculture, in the continental as well as in the coastal Croatia.
In the North, between the rivers Drava, Sava and the Danube, in the Pannonian plain, but also in Istria, the Nord of the Croatian Adriatic coast, the most important wines are quite always white (like the refreshing Zlahtina of the island of Krk), very similar to the Austrian and Nord East Italian wines. There are no borders for vineyards!
Slavonija Flat Vineyards
Southern Shore Of Brac Island Vineyards
Istria Soft Hills Vineyards
Even in the south, white wines are predominant (Posip on the island of Korcula, Bogdanusa on Hvar) but the most famous are red. Like the number one, the Dingac and also the Postup on the Peljesac Peninsula (not far from Dubrovnik), the Plavac Mali on Hvar, or the Plavac on the island of Brac. And we don't have to forget the famous "Prosek" that has nothing to do with the Italian-Venetian Prosecco but is a sweet, dessert wine.
These last years, different Croatian wines have won international prices, regaining a place they had in the 19th century, when they were served at the Austrian Court. At that time, Croatia and Dalmatia were part of the Empire and the precious oak barrels that give sophisticated flavours to wine came from the Slavonia forest.
These last years, different Croatian wines have won international prices, regaining a place they had in the 19th century, when they were served at the Austrian Court. At that time, Croatia and Dalmatia were part of the Empire and the precious oak barrels that give sophisticated flavours to wine came from the Slavonia forest.
Typical Slavonia Oak Barrels
At the end of the 19th century, the Phylloxera destructed the French vineyards, giving space on the European market, at least for a few years, until the terrible disease attaqued also the Croatian vineyards. It was the time, on the beginning of the 20th century, when so many Dalmatians went to North and to South America... with their knowledge of wine making!
Between the two world wars, the Phylloxera was just a sad remembrance and the Dalmatian wine regained his fame. Today, after half a century of a mediocre quality of wine production, there is a new generation of wine makers that wants to return to the quality of the past. And, from year to year, the improvement is visible!
Between the two world wars, the Phylloxera was just a sad remembrance and the Dalmatian wine regained his fame. Today, after half a century of a mediocre quality of wine production, there is a new generation of wine makers that wants to return to the quality of the past. And, from year to year, the improvement is visible!
Original Label Of The Dragicevic Family From Brac Island Who Imported Dalmatian Wines In Prague
