croatian wines available in usa

Buyer’s Guide: Croatian Wines in the USA

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Good news for Croatian wine lovers and wine geeks residing in the USA.

wineandmore.com Croatia’s leading wine webshop, has just unveiled a mighty new limp.

Adding to their EU-wide shipping, wineandmore.com has succeeded in making Croatian wines more accessible by introducing US home delivery.

As a start, wines are available to US buyers in all Continental US states except North Dakota, New Hampshire, and Utah. The webshop will continue to expand the US selection and encourage readers to suggest which wines they’d like to see in the store. You can take a look at their full wine selection here.

“We worked hard to open sales channels in the US, and now, we can proudly announce that we can ship Croatian wines to the US,” said Dario Drmač, founder of wineandmore.com and Wine Bar Basement (Zagreb, Croatia).

dario drmac the wine and more croatia
Exotic Wine Travel and Dario Drmac recording a tasting episode at Wine Bar Basement in Zagreb, Croatia.

We met Dario in the winter of 2016 and soon became good friends with him. Dario was instrumental in highlighting obscure and exciting wine producers to us during our research for Cracking Croatian Wine. So we have no doubt that he would do the same for his US customers.

As your enthusiastic advocates of Croatian wine, we tasted some wines in Wine&more US portfolio to create a buyer’s guide for you. What’s more? 

 

Tasting Notes: Croatian Wines in the USA

Disclosure: Please note that these wines were sent to us as samples. Our opinions of the wines are completely independent and have not been paid for in any way. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. In this case, we have extended the option of purchasing the wines with a discount code. The discount code is set up through an affiliate program, which means we will get referral credits if you choose to use the discount code.

 

REFRESHINGLY CROATIAN

 

Benvenuti, Malvazija Istarska

Benvenuti Malvazija Istarska

 

 

 

 

Benvenuti is widely considered as one of the best producers of fresh Malvazija wine.

Type: A varietal wine made from Croatia’s indigenous wine grape, Malvazija Istarska (pronounce: Mal-vahz-ee-yah Ih-star-skah).
Alcohol: 13%
Wine region: Istria
Tasting notes: Mineral water, white peach, pear, honeydew melon, and yellow flowers. A summery white wine with lime-accented acidity and slightly bitter finish.The Benvenuti’s Malvazija Istarska is a varietally accurate wine and a crowd-pleaser.
Food pairing: Pasta with creamy sauce, grilled squid
Price: €9.99
This wine is for you: If you like floral, fresh white wine or if you want to understand the sensory merits of Malvazija Istarska.

 

Milan, Pošip, 2016

milan-posip-croatian-wine-usa

 

Many years ago, Ivica Milan brought the Pošip vines from its native land in Korčula to his hometown in Kaštela. The locals didn’t believe that Pošip would thrive in Kaštela, but they soon learned a new perspective because of Ivica Milan.

 

Type: A varietal wine made from Croatia’s indigenous wine grape, Pošip (pronounce: Poh-ship).
Alcohol: 13.5%
Wine region: Dalmatia
Tasting notes: The yellow-gold hue of Milan’s Pošip makes it immediately intriguing. Ripe cantaloupe, tropical fruit, and a hint of bruised pineapple. A full-bodied white wine with a touch of salinity and mineral flavor on the palate. It closes with a spicy bite. What an interesting wine. Hot tip: We tasted this wine across five days and the wine held up well. So feel free to leave this wine in the fridge for a few days and know that it’s going to be okay.
Food pairing: Stuffed cabbage, potato & anchovy gratin, pork stir-fry
Price: €17.99
This wine is for you: If you’re looking for a full-bodied, characterful wine.

 

Stina, Pošip, 2016

stina posip in usa

 

The Stina winery has been making impressions with its minimalistic labels, dramatically steep vineyards, and stellar wines.

 

Type: A varietal wine made Croatia’s indigenous wine grape, Pošip.
Alcohol: 13%
Wine region: Dalmatia
Tasting notes: Yoghurt, stone fruit, and an undertone of baked clay. Perhaps the biggest charm of Stina’s Pošip is its structure and the broad expression on the mid-palate. It packs a bright, saline drive on the palate.
Food pairing: Prawn cocktail, grilled fish
Price: €19.99
This wine is for you: If you’d like to try one of the best examples of Pošip.

 

RED, RAD, AND RARE

 

Tomić, Plavac, 2015

tomic plavac croatian wine usa

 

A high-profile winemaker in Croatia, Andro Tomić is best known for modernizing the image of Plavac Mali wines.

 

Type: A varietal wine made Croatia’s flagship grape, Plavac Mali (pronounce: Plah-vahts Mah-lee).
Alcohol: 13.5%
Wine region: Dalmatia
Tasting notes: Red fruit with a hint of blackberry, blueberry, hay, and Mediterranean herbs. The Tomić’s Plavac is considerably light in body for a Plavac Mali. The tannins are easy-going, which is a surprise for Plavac Mali. This reminds us of something between a Langhe Nebbiolo and a Sangiovese di Romagna.
Food pairing: Burrata caprese, couscous salad
Price: €11.99
This wine is for you: If you’d like to be wowed by the entry-level standard of Croatian red wine or if you want a value-for-money Plavac Mali wine.

 

Edivo, Dingač, 2014

edivo dingac croatian wine usa

 

Edivo is perhaps best known for its amphora wines that are aged in the Adriatic Sea.

Type: A varietal wine of Plavac Mali
Alcohol: 15.5%
Wine Region: Dalmatia
Tasting notes: A true Dingač’s flavor profile—carob, raisin, plum, and savory herbs. The nuanced bouquet sets the impression and the full body meets the expectation. However, the grippy and hard tannins hit the mid-palate and dim the expression slightly. Hot tip: Decant this wine for at least an hour before consumption. Drink it within 24 hours as it oxidizes relatively fast based on our experience.
Food pairing: Beef stew, barbecued ribs, roasted pork belly
Price: €24.99
This wine is for you: If you’d like to have a quintessential experience of Dalmatian red wine or if you like big, tannic and warm-climate red wine.

 

Matela, Crljenak Kaštelanski, 2013

matela crljenak kastelanski croatian wine usa

 

The Matela family has a long tradition of viticulture and pride themselves on respecting the traditional winemaking methods.

 

Type: A varietal wine of Crljenak Kaštelanski (pronounce: Tserl-yee-ehnak Kashh-tell-ann-skee), also know as Tribidrag and Zinfandel. Learn more about the story of “the original Zinfandel” in this article.
Alcohol: 14.5%
Wine region: Dalmatia
Tasting notes: Having tasted the Matela’s Crljenak Kaštelanski 2013 four times, we conclude that it shows considerable bottle variation. We also spoke with a few people in the Croatian wine trade and all expressed positive comments. However, you can see from our video that we err on the side of doubt.
Food pairing: Lamb gyros, ham & bean soup
Price: €16.99
This wine is for you: If you’re a wine geek who can’t wait to check off yet another esoteric grape on your to-drink list.

 

THE DEPENDABLE CUVÉES

 

Josić, Ciconia Nigra, Cuvée Superior, 2013 | Josić, Black Stork, Red Blend Superior, 2013

josic ciconia nigra Cuvee superior

 

The labels of Josić feature different animals that live in the Danube’s wetlands. The Josić Ciconia Nigra Cuvée Superior is the premium wine of this family-run winery.

 

Type: A red wine blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 30% Shiraz.
Alcohol: 13.5%
Wine region: Podunavlje (The Danube)
Tasting notes: Clove, vanilla, red cherry, red licorice, and a hint of blackberry. Bright and juicy with good acidic strength. This wine reminds us of the red blends from Waiheke, New Zealand.
Food pairing: Grilled eggplant, pork tenderloin
Price: €21.00
This wine is for you: If you’re craving a red wine with mouthwatering, sweet fruit flavors and just a touch of tannins to remind you to slow down.

 

G&J, Tvoja Krv i Moja, 2013 | G&J, Your Blood and Mine, 2013

your blood and mine 2013

 

G&J Vina is a garage winery run by Gino and his partner, Jadranka—hence the name “G&J”. The wine name “Tvoja Krv i Moja” translates to “Your Blood and Mine”.

 

Type: A red wine blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
Alcohol: 14.5%
Wine region: Dalmatia
Tasting notes: The earthy overtone and pronounced aroma of graphite are complemented by dark fruit and cherry. The tannins are slightly chewy and spread in broadness into a persistent finish. This is an approachable Bordeaux-style red with the potential to age well in the medium-term. Take a look at our “As Drunk By” article to learn more about the aging potential of G&J’s Your Blood and Mine.
Food pairing: Roast beef, hard cheese
Price: €24.99
This wine is for you: If you’re looking for a ready-to-drink, structured Bordeaux-style blend that tastes quite like an actual Bordeaux wine.

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    Do you want to try Croatian wines?    

If you’re looking to savor the exquisite flavor of Croatian wines, look no further than wineandmore.com. With an abundance of options from different winemakers, it’s easy to find exactly what your palate desires. Not sure which bottle is best for you? Try out one of their curated wine cases and discover the perfect vintage for any occasion!

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Want to learn more about wine?

Are you ready to discover the wonderful world of wines? Come join us at wineandmore.com and let’s explore the incredible selection of delicious wines together! We can’t wait to share our passion for wine with you!

 

6 thoughts on “Buyer’s Guide: Croatian Wines in the USA”

  1. I’m having a tough time finding Croatian wine here in Oklahoma. Specifically, a rose. I’d love to recreate a dinner we had in Hvar since we are stuck at home during quarantine. Any ideas?

    1. You will probably have to order from the internet. You can check the links in this article to see if anything suits you. Wine-Searcher.com is also a tool to help you find retailers.

    2. Rosé is tough because it’s a seasonal drink (usually only good for one year after release). Because there’s not a high demand for Croatian Rosé in the USA, producers won’t bring in a lot of it because retailers don’t want it to sit on the shelf if it doesn’t sell.

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