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In the Spring of 2018, we set out on a re-tour of Croatia to bring our book Cracking Croatian Wine: A Visitor Friendly-Guide to life. There was so much to share about Dalmatia that we ended up shooting five episodes on the region. This is the fourth episode about Dalmatia, ‘Cracking Croatian Wine: Dalmatian Mainland’.

Croatian Food & Wine On The Dalmatian Mainland

Most visitors to Croatia flock to the islands, which are beautiful. However, there’s a lot to be discovered on the Dalmatian mainland. It’s home to unique wine grapes and regional Croatian cuisine.

Local wine grapes Babić, Lasina, Plavina, Debit, Maraština, and Zlatarica can all be found on the Dalmatian mainland. The region is also home to distinct local cuisine, especially in the Neretva delta. Mainland Dalmatia is also home to one of the most famous wineries in Croatia.

Watch “Cracking Croatian Wine: Dalmatian Mainland” on Exotic Wine Travel YouTube:

Timestamps: Cracking Croatian Wine Dalmatian Mainland

(1:15) Join us for a road trip up the mainland coast to Komarna. It’s the newest wine region in Croatia, producers such as Rizman, Volarević, and Terre Madre are pumping out some impressive wines from Plavac Mali and Pošip.

(1:33) Check out the green Neretva Delta. It sticks out like a sore thumb in bone-dry Dalmatia. The area is home to some of the most unique Croatian food.

(1:50) Meet Vjekoslav Prović of Prović Winery and Hotel Merlot. They are a family-run winery that produces delicious fresh Chardonnay, Bordeaux Blends, and white wine from the rare grape Zlatarica. Vjekoslav talks about this rare grape.

(3:15) Join us for a traditional Neretvan lunch. The unique mix of fresh and saltwater in the delta provides a home for a local species of eel and blue crab. The Prović family cooks us up some classic dishes like blue crab pasta, grilled eel with polenta, and frog & eel brodet.

(4:37) Take a road trip with us up to the village of Primošten. Just outside this village is a UNESCO-listed vineyard named Bucavac. This stone-lattice vineyard is where the best Babić is grown. It’s a red Croatian wine grape that shows a lot of potential.

(5:06) Check out the village of Skradin, which is home to one of Croatia’s gems, Krka National Park.

(5:19) Come with us to the village of Plastovo where we meet Ante Sladić Winery. He works with the local red grapes Lasina and Plavina in addition to the white grapes Maraština and Debit.

(5:36) Ante discusses the local Croatian wine grapes of the Dalmatian mainland.

(7:31) Take a stroll down to the road to Bibich Winery. This winery is one of the most famous Croatian wineries abroad. Proprietor and winemaker Alen Bibić was notably featured on an episode of No Reservations with the late-Anthony Bourdain.

(8:40) Alen Bibić takes some time to talk about the grapes Babić and Debit.

(10:16) Have brunch with us at Bistro Arka on the Skradin Marina. They are famous for having the best pršut (prosciutto) in Croatia. The bistro is also famous for making a legendary dish known as Skradin risotto.

View, like, share the full episode on our Facebook Page:

The finest selection of Croatian wines

available at:

Shipping is available EU-wide and to the UK.

Check out Croatian Wines Available in the USA.

************

    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!

************

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!

You May Also Enjoy: Making Cracking Croatian Wine

Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. 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. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post Cracking Croatian Wine: Dalmatian Mainland appeared first on Wine Travel.

Refreshing like white, complex like red, versatile like sparkling, and fun like rosé: here comes orange wine. While those descriptors are mere generalizations, they do accurately illustrate the various facades of orange wine. Many people believe orange wine is having a moment. Some consider it to be the latest ‘It’ wine. The irony is that this ‘new’ style of wine has a history of more than 8,000 years. It has survived the passage of time, and its sensory merits are time-tested. Yet today orange wines are considered controversial, sparking raw emotions and fervent beliefs among wine drinkers, winemakers, and wine professionals.

Why is that?

The best way to understand these polarized opinions is to first understand how orange wine is made.

What is Orange Wine? No, Actually it’s Amber Wine.

Nothing to do with the citrus fruit, orange wines are made from white wine grapes where the skins are not removed and stay in contact with the juice for anywhere from a few days to months, or even years in some rare cases. This contrasts with conventional white wines, which are made by crushing the grapes and removing the skins before the fermentation process begins. The color of a wine comes less from the flesh and juice than from the skin. As such, the skins of white grapes impart color density to orange wines. Besides color, the skins also provide phenolic compounds that can make the wines more robust and textured.

So orange wines are white wines made in a similar way to red wines. Fans of these wines find their individuality unparalleled and compelling. The naysayers have their reasons too, and one of the biggest critiques is that extended skin contact can conceal the varietal characteristics and the subtle nuances derived from ‘a sense of place’.

While it is more common for people to refer to this style of wine as ‘orange wine’—which can be considered a misnomer and is clearly misleading for many reasons (orange wine can also mean wine made in the Orange wine region of Australia)—we prefer to use the term ‘amber wine’. It is also sometimes called ‘skin contact wine’ and ‘macerated white wine’.

So are we all set here? Let’s talk about amber wine now.

Croatian Amber Wines (Orange Wines)

Today,  amber wine is made in many parts of the world, with Australia, Austria, France, Georgia, Italy, Spain, and the United States being some of the more famous amber wine-producing countries. Also, Croatia’s neighbor, Slovenia, has made a name for itself with its natural wine movement, which includes a diverse and world-class offering of amber wines. Croatia has the potential to shine in this category as well. Amber wines are made in all four wine regions in Croatia: Istria & Kvarner, Dalmatia, Croatian Uplands, and Slavonia & the Danube. Many of these wines are of outstanding quality, while others are quirky with memorable traits.

A statement we often hear in Croatia is, “My grandfather made wine like that.” To many producers, making white wine with long maceration is not a newfangled posturing or market-driven experiment but a logical return to family tradition.

Croatia receives most of its visitors in the summer, so red wines may not always be an attractive option, especially on a sweltering day. Why not give amber wine a shot? Here are 15 excellent Croatian amber wines to look out for.

15 Croatian Amber Wines to Try

• Boškinac OCU 2015 – Istria & Kvarner

Boškinac Hotel-Winery-Restaurant is a culinary hotspot on the island of Pag. Owner and winemaker Boris Šuljić considers this wine an ode to his father, who used to make this style of wine. We love the 2015 vintage of Boškinac OCU and wrote about it in a previous article. Fans of amber wines with sweet oak taste will appreciate this effort.

 

Weeeee they are pouring wine-by-the-glass from a magnum bottle! Boskinač Ocu 2015 is a blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Debit, and Gegić. The last two are Croatian varieties. 21 days of maceration. 6 months in oak before bottling. The result is an amber wine with medium frame, refreshing acidity, and white tea-like astringency. Aromas of summer flower, ginger, caramel, and marshmallow. Orange pith and citrus flavors on the palate. I don’t come across many amber wines with pronounced oak flavors, and definitely welcome the toasty sweetness that the oak lends to this wine.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on May 31, 2017 at 2:37pm PDT

• Clai Sv. Jakov 2013 – Istria & Kvarner

Giorgio Clai is often referred to as the ‘Godfather of Istria’ and the ‘Godfather of Organic Winemaking’. He is also a household name in the ‘natural wine’ circuit. A trip to Istria is incomplete without trying Clai wines. The grapes are farmed with biodynamic principles and undergo spontaneous fermentation.

Clai Sv. Jakov is a serious interpretation of Malvazija, with Spring aromas of dandelion and lemongrass, dried fruit, and a hint of nut. The citrusy acidity makes the wine extremely approachable. This wine would appeal to people who love structured amber wine packed with intricate nuances. 2013 is the latest vintage on the market, and the older vintages are worth seeking out. As the wines age, they gain more layers of nuttiness and meadow-like notes. The skin contact lends the Malvazija flavor intensity, texture, weight, and a gentle tannic tug. You can read more about our thoughts in the Instagram post below.

Clai also makes a more easy-drinking, macerated white blend called Ottocento Bijeli.

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2011 Clai Sv. Jakov made of Istrian Malvasia. Color of a Grade A medium-amber maple syrup. Characteristics of wet sand, dried flower, macadamia oil, orange pith, and pomelo. Tannins are redolent of green tea. Refreshing acidity, extremely spicy finish. The 2009 sibling is performing better than 2011 at the moment, but 2011 appears to have better stuffing to go the distance. To us, Clai (Istria, Croatia) is one of the top three producers of amber wine in the world–well, at least in the limited world that we’ve created after tasting a significant number of amber wines. Employing organic farming methods, native yeast, and other minimal-intervention approaches, Clai wines always turn up with vitality and whole integrity.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Apr 30, 2017 at 3:21pm PDT

• Dobravac Simfonija 2009 – Istria & Kvarner

The Dobravac Villa consists of a winery, hotel, and restaurant in the town of Rovinj, Istria. The winery produces several exciting wines from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Teran, and Malvazija.

The Dobravac Simfonija is a skin contact wine made from a blend of 70% Malvazija and 30% Chardonnay. A full-bodied amber wine with flavors of apricot, orange peel, and yellow flower. The Dobravac Simfonija boasts a rich texture with a touch of tannins and a caramel-tinted finish. There is a slightly rustic quality to this wine that hardcore amber wine geeks will adore.

• Kabola Malvasia Amphora 2009 – Istria & Kvarner

An organic wine producer, Kabola has made waves with its Muškat Momjanski dessert wines and amphora wines. The Kabola Malvasia Amphora is made from Malvazija grapes, macerated for seven months in amphorae, then aged in 4,000-liter Slavonian oak barrels. The wine sees further aging in the bottle before it is released on the market. This bottling would appeal to wine lovers who like textured amber wines with a good blance between fresh flavors and oxidative notes.

 Search or buy on wineandmore.com

 

Kabola is an organic wine producer in the Istria wine region of Croatia. Its lineup of sweet wine and amphora wine have made waves in the country. We absolutely adore this macerated Malvazija made in amphora. Despite the 14.8% alcohol, which does throw out some heat on the end palate, this is juicy and easy to drink!

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Aug 31, 2017 at 7:59am PDT

• Piquentum Blanc 2015 – Istria & Kvarner

The Piquentum winery is built into a water cistern and enjoys geothermal control all year round. To ferment his wine, Dimitri Brečević uses fans to blow warmer air from outside into his winery.

Made without added yeast, enzymes, fining agents, or other additives, the Malvazija grapes are macerated for two to three days, then aged in a mix of 70% barriques and 30% stainless steel tanks. The floral aroma makes this wine immediately appealing. A deeper, thoughtful sniff captures notes of chrysanthemum tea, smoked meat, and a hint of white-fleshed fruit. The creamy palate is enlivened by appetite-pleasing acidity. The finish is slightly bitter with a yellow flower tone. Without close observation, it might be hard to tell that this is a skin contact wine. However, the short maceration certainly delivers a discernible savory quality to it while muting the fresh fruit flavor judiciously. This is a great option for people who like lightly macerated white wines.

Piquentum Malvazija Blanc is available at wineandmore.com

• Roxanich Ines u Bijelom 2009 – Istria & Kvarner

Roxanich produces three bottlings of amber wines: Antica, which is made from Malvazija; Milva from Chardonnay, and this: a field blend of Glera, Graševina, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Tocai Friulano, and Vermentino.v

The name “Ines u Bijelom” translates to “Ines in white” (Ines is the name of Mr Rozanić’s wife). Macerated for 70 days, this amber delight exhibits a high-toned, floral bouquet and a buoyant palate marked by flavors of dried leaf, orange blossom, ginger, and white flower. The acidity sings through the palate. All that is great, but the most memorable trait of this wine is perhaps the bittersweet, honeysuckle-like finish.

Roxanich Ines u Bijelom is available at wineandmore.com

• Krauthaker Kuvlakhe Graševina 2011 – Slavonia & The Danube

One of the most revered figures in Croatia’s wine industry, Vlado Krauthaker visited the Georgian wine regions a few years ago and fell in love with its oxidative-style, skin contact wines. The Krauthaker Kuvlakhe series is a manifestation of his love for Georgia’s traditional-style amber wine made in the qvevri.

Krauthaker Kuvlakhe Graševina is made from organically grown grapes. Fermentation happens spontaneously and no sulfur is added at any point. The wine is bottled without fining or filtration. This amber wine received 207 days of skin contact. On the nose, it shows notes that are more typical of red wine, such as red fruit, cedar, leather, coffee, and vanilla.  On the palate, citrus flavors, along with hints of pistachio, sesame, and dried red fruit and dried black fruit emerged. The wine starts out slightly weighted down by the oak influence, but with some rigorous swirling, it transforms into an ethereal beauty.  This wine takes skin contact and the oxidative style to quite the extreme end, and the result cannot be more deliciously umami.

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• Korak Pinot Sivi 2011 – The Croatian Uplands

Velimir Korak has an insistent but not dogmatic approach to winemaking. This attitude penetrates his wines. There’s a distinct style across his portfolio: vibrant and precise fruit flavors, dancing acidity, and a floral undertone.

Pinot Sivi is the Croatian name for Pinot Gris / Pinot Grigio. Fermented with native yeast, macerated for one month, then aged for one year in old barriques and another year in large oak casks. The Korak Pinot Sivi 2011 has harmonious flavors of lychee, rose petal, grass, raspberry, and redcurrant. If you love macerated Pinot Grigio from Friuli-Venezia Giulia, you would probably appreciate this fine example too.

• Tomac Amfora 2008, Tomac Amfora Rizling 2011, and Tomac Amfora Pjenušac Brut Nature 2010 – The Croatian Uplands

Tomislav Tomac is a revered producer in Croatia. Perhaps more known for his sparkling wines, his still wines and Amfora line are equally impressive. The Tomac Amfora line consists of wines that are fermented in Georgian qvevri (buried clay vessels) and matured in large oak casks. These wines tend to have a sweet nut undertone and would appeal to wine lovers who seek elegance in their amber wines. You can read more about these wines in our article Tomac Winery: Leading the Charge in Croatia.

Tomac Amfora wines are available at wineandmore.com

• Voštinić Klasnić Škrlet Orange 2015 – The Croatian Uplands

This producer caught our eye during the Vinart Grand Tasting event in Zagreb. Made from the autochthonous grape Škrlet from the Moslavina sub-region, near Zagreb. This spent 20 days on the skins. The result is a  wonderfully structured amber wine that amplifies the varietal characteristics: light weight, a botanical undertone, white-fleshed fruit flavors, and an invigorating acidity. Flavors of dandelion, orange peel, peach, nectarine, and Autumn leaf pile, the wine’s finish is significantly persistent with a featherlight tug from the tannins.  The Voštinić Klasnić Škrlet Orange makes for an easy introduction to the wonderful world of skin contact.

• Bibich Bas de Bas Bijelo 2011 – Dalmatia

Alen Bibić is one of Croatia’s most famous wine producers. He is a champion for the variety Debit, which is indigenous to the area around Skradin. He spent much of his childhood tending the vines of Debit with his grandfather, and this wine is an encapsulation of the wine that his grandfather used to make.

A wine that is close to Alen’s heart, the Bibich Bas de Bas Bijelo is made from 90% Debit and 10% miscellaneous varieties. Fermented in large stone tanks, macerated for three months, then transferred into oak barrels for aging. No sulfur is added at any point. This is a  full-bodied wine with a precise structure and marvelously long finish. The texture and flavor envelop the entire mouth; it’s as if every taste receptor is electrically stimulated. There is an intense dried tropical fruit characteristic, made interesting by a botanical undertone. The oxidative style appears as a pleasant bourbon-like aroma. The finish is tangy with a hint of tangerine. The tannins are grippy but sweet, round, and juicy. This is a juggernaut manifestation of the grape Debit, and is a wine for wine geeks and collectors.

• Sladić Oya Noya 2015 – Dalmatia

Located in Plastovo in Central Dalmatia, Sladić’s family-run cellar is in the same village as Bibich Winery (mentioned above). Ante Sladić and his family work with the indigenous varieties Debit, Lasina, Maraština/Rukatac, and Plavina.

The Sladić Oya Noya is a blend of Maraština/Rukatac and Debit. Maceration lasted for seven days. On the nose, the wine expresses notes of dandelion, game, dried pineapple, and ripe apricot. A full-bodied wine with an end-palate dominated by oxidative flavors. This wine would appeal to people who have some experience with amber wine and are interested in expericing a different expression.

• Duboković Moja M 2010 – Dalmatia

Ivo Duboković is a marketing professor, the vice-president of the Tourism Board of Jelsa, and the winemaker at Duboković winery. The production size is around 25,000 bottles per year. Because of the low supply, high quality, and high demand, Duboković wines have gained a cult-like following and can be hard to procure. As such, a visit to this garage winery is the best way to try its wines. The winery is located on the Hvar island in South Dalmatia. Tasting sessions are held in the cellar, under candlelight, with barrels piled high up in all corners of the room.

This macerated Maraština (Rukatac) flaunts an arresting golden hue and flavors of cherry, citrus, cedar, caramel, and an array of Mediterranean herbs. There’s a lot of power coming from the acidity and minerality. It will be hard to tell if this is a white, rosé or red wine in a blind tasting. A chameleon wine that will surprise nearly every wine lover.

Search or buy Duboković wines at wineandmore.com

The finest selection of

organic wines available at:

Shipping is available EU-wide and to the UK.

Check out Croatian Wines Available in the USA.

************

    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!

************

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!

Check out our collection of articles in the “amber wine / orange wine” section.

Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. 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. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post 15 Amber Wines (Orange Wines) to Try in Croatia appeared first on Wine Travel.

In June 2017, the inaugural Zagreb Bubbles festival was held in Croatia’s capital city. The Zagreb Bubbles is the first sparkling wine-themed event in Croatia. Over 100 sparkling wine producers, both domestic and international, participated in the event. The festival kicked off with a few days of peripheral programs and workshops, which led up to the main show on a Saturday afternoon.

Sparkling wine is becoming increasingly popular in Croatia. Croatian wine producers are utilizing both the Charmat method (think Prosecco) and classic method (think Champagne) to make their sparkling wines. For now, the Plešivica wine region is the king of Croatian sparkling wine with Ivančić, Korak, Šember, and Tomac leading the way. There are some solid examples coming out of Istria, Slavonia, and Dalmatia too. Teran from Istria shows a lot of promise as it is able to maintain searing acidity upon achieving great phenolic ripeness; this results in relatively intense, fuller sparkling rosé wines. Graševina from Slavonia and Pošip and Debit from Dalmatia are also capable of delivering unique sparkling wines. Overall, Croatian sparkling wines have shown capable of delighting wine lovers and at times deliver an entirely different sensory experience that thrills the wine geeks.

Here are a few of our favorite wines from Zagreb Bubbles. 

Croatian Sparkling Wine

Find out a wide selection of sparkling wine at wineandmore.com

 

The Croatian wine scene has a new star! The Korak sparkling wines are truly commendable. Creamy texture with just a hint of brioche note. The purity and health of its fruit sing through the nose and palate. The structure is defined and tight. The bubbles are ooohhh so soft, persistent, and fine! We’re in love with these new bottlings of Korak and will be stocking them up at home.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Jun 4, 2017 at 2:05am PDT

 

Our favorite of the Misal’s portfolio of bubbles: Blanc de Blancs 2010. 12 hours of maceration that lends it a deeper color. 6 years on lees. Flavors are predominantly of brioche, peach, and tangerine. Bold expressions and round on the palate.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Jun 4, 2017 at 2:55am PDT

 

First time tasting a sparkling rosé made from Teran grapes. I think we are on to something here!

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Jun 3, 2017 at 9:32am PDT

 

Vina Jakob (Croatia) makes two sparklers– one from Chardonnay and Merlot and another from Chardonnay and Syrah. Both showed well at the Zagreb Bubbles show. We also tasted the reds by Vina Jakob at a different wine show and enjoyed them. This is a producer we’ll be watching with anticipation!

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Jun 9, 2017 at 10:54pm PDT

 

Another compelling wine from Roxanich. This is a sparkling rosé made from Teran grapes. This spent four years on the lees! The Teran gives dark fruit flavors, broadness, and earthy tone to the sparkler and makes it quite unlike others. As Teran is naturally high in acidity, we find it to be an excellent variety for making sparkling wines. The Teran sparklers we’ve tried offer ripeness, flavor intensity, yet without compromising on the crispness.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Jun 4, 2017 at 12:10am PDT

Champagne

 

Another cracking French find at Zagreb Bubbles: Champagne Larmandier-Bernier Terre de Vertus Premier Cru 2011. Zero dosage, single-cru wine of 100% Chardonnay from 100% single vintage–no blending. Biodynamic producer who relies on native yeast for first fermentation. At least four years on lees before disgorgement. This is a cool kid. Nutty, fresh green herb, white flower, pear, and peach. Extremely creamy. Only the slightest hint of yeast; purity of fruit takes center stage. Amazing value for a under €40 Champagne.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Jun 10, 2017 at 12:42am PDT

 

One of the best wines served at Zagreb Bubbles event: Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2006. This is the top bottling of Taittinger. Whipped cream-like texture brings forth the weightless body of this wine. Coiled intensity of pure fruit notes–almond biscotti, nectarine, white chocolate, and lemon. Underlying floral tone. Amazing length. 2006 is tasting like it’ll eventually evolve and surpass other recent vintages.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Jun 10, 2017 at 12:24am PDT

Franciacorta

 

Franciacorta always deserves more love. The Antinori Donna Cora Franciacorta Saten 2011 is ready for the world, after spending 5 quiet years resting on the lees.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Jun 12, 2017 at 5:12am PDT

Still Wine

 

Not going to pretend or be a smart ass, a still Prosecco is completely new to us and this is a great start! We’re absolutely hooked and can’t wait to explore more.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Jun 3, 2017 at 9:36am PDT

 

2015 marks the first vintage of Ivančić Griffin’s Single Vineyard. It’s a field blend of Müller-Thurgau and Chardonnay; co-fermented. A wonderfully integrated wine yet you can taste specific characteristics of each of the variety. A refreshing wine that’s easy to drink yet teases for your attention with subtle nuances. A wine of duality. Highly recommended.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Jun 11, 2017 at 3:52am PDT

 

The Zagreb Bubbles program consists of several peripheral events, including a “Fine Wine Tasting” evening. At the fine wine event, we had the opportunity to sample several famous wines from around the world and also library selection from Croatian wine producers. We tasted a Korak Pinot Crni (Noir) from 2007 and the wine was showing incredible youthfulness and fruit-forwardness. A wine that could go on for another decade. While Korak is very much known as one of the grand masters of Croatian Pinot Noir, we say: don’t overlook Korak Syrah too!

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Jun 11, 2017 at 2:18am PDT

 

Another interesting find at the Zagreb Bubbles’s fine wine event. Another fascinating wine imported by our friends at Hidden Wines! This causes split opinions–Charine adores this wine while Matt is indifferent. The 2011 Hartmann Dona Dona Noir comes from the Sudtirol area in Alto Adige. 100% Blauburgunder harvested from >20 year-old vines planted on steep slopes and at 500 meters above sea level. Spontaneous fermentation. Aged for 23 months in the barrel and 2 years in the bottle. This wine expresses exceptional drinkability and potential for long cellaring. Freshness, earth, spice, and intensity of fruit are expressed in complete harmony. If mellow happiness or quiet contentment has a taste, this should be it.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Jun 12, 2017 at 4:06am PDT

 

2010 Domaine Raymond Usseglio & Fils Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Imperiale. Among the people in our group, this is the star of the fine wine evening put together by Zagreb Bubbles. This wine should have been decanted for many hours before the show. But even when poured fresh from the bottle, the potential punches through the shy facade. 99 points by Robert Parker The Wine Advocate? No explanation required; every point flows towards every moment of the experience. Too young to drink, it’s all coiled up, yet nothing screams painful on the senses. No detailed tasting note. Just drink it to understand the meaning of a complete, fine wine.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Jun 12, 2017 at 4:55am PDT

The finest selection of

Croatian wines

available at:

Shipping is available EU-wide and to the UK.

Check out Croatian Wines Available in the USA.

************

    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!

************

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!

You can learn more about Zagreb Bubbles on their website.
Matthew also reviewed a wine that we tasted at the show: Nusserhof Südtirol Lagrein Riserva 2010
The opinions expressed in this article are not associated with any sponsors or business promotions.

The post Croatia’s Wine Tasting Event: Zagreb Bubbles in Pictures appeared first on Wine Travel.

Welcome to As Drunk By Exotic Wine Travel, a weekly column where we feature wines that are worthy of your attention. The wine reviews featured in this series may be written by either one or the both of us. The featured wines can be from obscure or more well-known wine regions. Sit back, grab a glass, and discover new and exciting wines with us!

Bibich Debit 2015

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In the Spring of 2015, we had a memorable tasting lunch in Plastovo, Croatia. Plastovo is a tiny village just north of Split. The village is home to one of the most famous winemakers in all of Croatia, Mr. Alen Bibić. We targeted the winery as a high priority in preparation for our upcoming Croatian wine guide.

Prior to our visit, we had seen Bibich wines in America. In fact, over half of the winery’s production is exported to the USA. That wasn’t the real reason we made a lunch appointment though. What compelled us to pay the winery a visit was a scene in an episode of the now discontinued No Reservations.

In the episode about Coastal Croatia, Anthony Bourdain is enamored by the food and wine at Bibich winery. At the end of the episode, he stands up and having drunk too much wine, falls over and passes out.

Would we suffer the same fate as Anthony Bourdain during our visit?

We entered the winery and opted to sit outside. It was the perfect weather with a fresh breeze coming in. Plastovo is at about 200 meters in elevation and the Adriatic Sea is 10 kilometers away. This aids in creating a great climate for viticulture.

Bibich winery does a tasting lunch and dinner during the tourist season. Alen’s wife Vesna is a trained chef. The food is molecular cuisine and is designed to enhance the quality of the wine. We’ve been to many wine-pairing dinners in the past but this one was distinctly different. “The food is prepared for the wine, to make the wine taste better,” Alen told us.

 

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Apr 27, 2017 at 5:56pm PDT

Charine was skeptical at first as she isn’t a big fan of molecular cuisine. As the plates rolled in one after another (you can scroll through the dishes in the Instagram post above), there was no denying it. Every dish had subtly intense flavors that enhanced the wine. Textures and flavor combinations are something that must be deliberately thought out for the tasting meals at Bibich.

The winery was very gracious at the tasting lunch. It was scheduled to be five courses but ended up being nine courses and 13 wines. We got a chance to sample a few of Alen’s small production wines including the Bibich Bas de Bas Crno  and Bibch Aleph. Bibich Bas de Bas Crno is a rich, single-vineyard wine made from Syrah and Merlot. The Aleph is an excellent Bordeaux blend made in good years with a hefty price tag to boot.

After the tasting lunch, we stepped into the tasting room. Alen opened up a few wines that we didn’t taste during lunch, including his La Sin. It’s one of the few varietal wines in Croatia made from the Lasina grape.

The lunch and tasting stretched out over three and a half hours. In other words, we sampled a ton of wine. We did make it out in better shape than Anthony Bourdain though.

The wines that left the deepest impression on me were the ones made from the grape Debit. They aren’t Bibich’s finest wines but are unique and full of character. Debit is a Croatian grape. Folklore says that peasants paid off soldiers with wines made of Debit during the Napoleonic Wars.

Alen specializes in Debit and is one of only a handful of producers working with it. In fact, it’s the wine that he himself drinks the most of. Alen makes several different versions of Debit including a sparkling wine, a single-vineyard version, an amber wine, and this entry-level offering.

This wine is pure fun. It is full of tangerine, flint, and caramel flavors. The acidity is crisp and the wine has a grapefruit finish. Its clean flavors are a perfect complement to seafood. I still don’t understand why more producers don’t work with this grape. With the warm weather and abundance of seafood on the Croatia coast, wines like this seem like a no-brainer. 

4.1/5 (You can find out more about our scoring system on the START HERE page.)

 

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I’m ecstatic that we made it through the tasting lunch alive as you can see.

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The finest selection of

Croatian wines

available at:

Shipping is available EU-wide and to the UK.

Check out Croatian Wines Available in the USA.

************

    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!

************

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!

Disclosure:
Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. 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. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase the items via the links we provide.

The post Bibich Debit 2015 appeared first on Wine Travel.

Based in New York City, Cliff Rames is a freelance writer and sommelier. We first heard about him in an episode of Wine Library TV many years ago. Between 2016 and 2017, we spent eight months traveling through Croatia and tasted thousands of wines in preparation for our book Cracking Croatian Wine. During that period of travel and research, Cliff’s website Wines of Croatia was an indispensable resource for us.

EXPLORE THE WINES OF CROATIA WITH CLIFF RAMES

•  How did you get into wine?

When I was a kid, I found an interest in food and had a dream of owning a cafe in an exotic place, where I could cook and make people happy. In culinary school, I started learning about food and wine pairing. The more I explored, read, and learned, the more I became profoundly interested in wine. I still love to cook but would much rather serve cool wine than cook in a hot kitchen.

Eventually, it got to the point where every time I stepped into a wine shop, it’d take me three hours to emerge because I had to read nearly every single label in the shop in order to choose one wine for the evening. I still harbor the dream of owning a cafe, although it will probably be in Croatia and have more of a wine-bar theme.

• Food and wine are a pair that seems to partake in a higher order of inevitability. We know you as the Wines of Croatia guy. What other wine regions do you enjoy drinking from?

I’m a wine lover – first. I’m fascinated by the product of a place. When I taste a specific wine, I taste a certain place – which appeals to my sense of wanderlust. I was in France last year and fell in love with Chablis. I love the Finger Lakes region in New York, the Umpqua Valley in Oregon, Mosel, the Mount Etna wine region in Sicily, and Tokaj. I could go on and on. Every region has its unique nuances and charm that make wine so fascinating and appealing. It’s an endless journey.

“Tasting places through your glass is the wine experience.”

– Cliff Rames, founder of Wines of Croatia

• The more you learn, the less you know. We can relate to that, especially when it comes to wine. What turned you on to Croatian wine?

My father is originally from a tiny island off the coast of Croatia. When I was 16, he asked if I wanted to see where he was from. Of course I said yes. A few years later, he took me there, and I had my first glass of Dingač – a 1983 vintage no less. I fell in love instantly and proceeded to ask a ton of questions about Dingač. But back then, people in Croatia simply told me: it’s a wine, or it’s a grape, or that’s where the wine is from – nobody could give me a concise answer. Years later, I found out that Dingač is a place on the Pelješac peninsula, and it became a mythical place to me.

After getting certified as a sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers, I decided to specialize in what I had a natural inclination towards: Croatian wine. I was looking around and found that there was no information on Croatian wine. I thought, “Well somebody has to do something about that!” I took it on as a crusade, a personal mission, and at times I felt like John the Baptist screaming into the desert.

• And now “Cliff Rames” is almost a synonym for Croatian wine! What can Croatian wine offer to the world?

So often, well-made wines can transport you to a place; Croatian wines do that for me. There are about 130 indigenous varieties in Croatia, although perhaps only three dozen exist in commercial production. These grapes have funky names and make wines that taste like nothing else on earth. The trend in the wine world today is authenticity. People want food, wine, and stories that are real. Croatia can offer that. It is a magical place with some great stories to tell.

• The movement towards authenticity has certainly opened up a new playground on the world stage for lesser-known wine regions, exotic wines, and artisanal wine producers. Has the Croatian wine wave caught on internationally or does it need a jolt?

I have been working on Wines of Croatia for 10 years. There are a lot more Croatian wines available in today’s US market, but not as many as I would like to see. I am a little disappointed, but there are a few talented importers bringing in some good stuff. The thing is that these importers are regional and don’t have the national outreach yet. Things are getting better, but there is still a lot of work to do here in the USA.

• For the benefit of wine travelers, would you tell us more about the major wine regions in Croatia and their differences?

Croatia is broken into four major regions: Istria and Kvarner; Dalmatia; Slavonia and Danube; and the Uplands. Slavonia and Danube is a fantastic region but often forgotten and overlooked. This is too bad because it is a fabulous wine-growing region. It offers the white grape Graševina, which is an incredibly food-friendly grape. Graševina can manifest in so many different styles: sparkling wine, crisp and fresh dry wine, full-bodied and barrel-aged wine, sweet dessert wine, and even ice wine. It can wear almost every single hat in terms of wine style. There is also the potential to make solid red wines from the varieties Frankovka, Zweigelt, and Merlot.

The Uplands is a pastoral region behind the capital of Zagreb. It is quasi-alpine so you get cool-climate wines. There are many light, fresh, and fruity white wines coming out of that region. And there’s also the potential for sparkling wines and ice wines over there.

Istria has a tremendous food culture that plays off what goes on in Italy. It is called the ‘Tuscany of Croatia’ because of the food, truffles, rolling green hills, and medieval villages with vineyards dotted in between. The white wine grape Malvazija and red wine grape Teran are big there; those two varieties make food-friendly wines that pair excellently with the local cuisine.

Dalmatia is really a great gift to Croatia as it is home to the largest number of indigenous grape varieties. What’s nice is the local grapes there are still in production, whereas many indigenous varieties from other regions have been lost. The leading grape in Dalmatia is Plavac Mali, the offspring of Zinfandel (Crljenak Kaštelanski/Tribidrag). What is overlooked is the great white wines available in this region, particularly Pošip. There is a famous photo of Bono from U2 drinking Grk circulating on the web. Unfortunately, wine made from Grk is so rare and the production is so small that we can’t have any hope that it will be a global sensation. But everyone who tries it loves it.

Bono, the lead man from U2, enjoys a glass of Croatian white wine.

• Oh yes, we love Grk too. It’s so hard to get that wine even in Croatia. Who are some of your favorite producers in Croatia, and why are they special to you?

Wow, I hope I don’t get into trouble for leaving anyone out! One of my all-time favorites and great friend is Alen Bibić. He’s a forward-thinking pioneer in Croatia. He was one of the first to take international export seriously. His winery is also about 30 minutes away from where my father was born. My grandfather had vineyards close to Bibić’s and grew some of the grapes, like Babić and Debit, that Alen champions.

There are a number of new and forward-thinking winemakers like Bruno Trapan, Ivica Matošević, Moreno Degrassi, Moreno Coronica, and the Benvenuti brothers, as well as other guys up in Istria. The godfather of Istria for me is Giorgio Clai. He makes amazing orange wines from Malvazija and big, delicious reds from Teran and Refosco.

Down in Hvar, there is a visionary winemaker called Andro Tomić who does a great job at harnessing indigenous varieties and making them approachable for those that are new to Croatian wines. In Slavonia, you have Vlado Krauthaker who is doing amazing things. A lot of winemakers in Slavonia are unsung heroes doing great work.

In the Uplands, Bodren is making excellent ice and late-harvest wines. Tomac is producing amazing sparkling and amphora wines. Korak is making one of the finest Pinot Noirs in Croatia, and he’s a great guy with a strong signature in his winemaking style.

• Adding on to your recommendation about Alen Bibić: we visited the Bibich winery several months ago and enjoyed one of the best wine-pairing experience we’ve ever had. The molecular cuisine, which Alen’s wife prepared, elevated the wines to a whole new level of exquisite charm. The Bibich winery certainly sets the bar high for gastronomic tourism. Moving forward, what do you see in the trajectory of your projects on Croatian wine?

It’s been an interesting 10 years; most of the time, it’s been a one-man show. There have been various initiatives to get funding from various sources. I have conducted masterclasses and assisted with grand tastings here in New York City. I hope to collaborate with the winemaker’s association of Croatia in continuing these events.

The biggest challenge is sustaining the Wines of Croatia project without bankrupting myself. I have used my heart and passion to propagate this project and realized that I need to monetize the website in order to move forward. The question is how to do that while maintaining the credibility, objectivity, and integrity of the information. I have some plans in the works and am relaunching the website soon, so we will take it from there.

Exotic Wine Travel’s Choice: Croatian Wine

Clai Ottocento Crni 
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Made by the wine producer that Cliff refers to as “the godfather of Istria”. The Clai Ottocento Crni is a red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Teran, and a touch of Refosco. The grapes are farmed organically with biodynamic principles. The grapes undergo spontaneous fermentation and long maceration. This is a wine that will appease many people: dense and powerful in the mouth and finishes with refinement. The rich flavors are of black fruit, licorice, musky perfume, and earth. The long end palate is guided by a mineral characteristic, perked up by grippy but easy-going tannins.

We also did a video featuring Clai’s wines:

The finest selection of

Croatian wines

available at:

Shipping is available EU-wide and to the UK.

Check out Croatian Wines Available in the USA.

************

    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!

************

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!

• Featured photo: Cliff Rames by Wines of Croatia. 
• Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. 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. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase the items via the links we provide.

The post Understanding Croatian Wine with Cliff Rames appeared first on Wine Travel.