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 fifth and final episode about Dalmatia, ‘Cracking Croatian Wine In Brač & Hvar’.

The Croatian Wine Islands Brač & Hvar

Two of the most famous Croatian wine islands in Southern Dalmatia are Brač and Hvar. The latter is known for its long history of viticulture and is home to the longest continuously planted vineyard site in the world, the Stari Grad Plain. Brač also has a long history of viticulture that is being revived by one modern producer.

Both islands give way to spectacular views of steep mountains, old villages, and the deep blue Adriatic Sea. They are also home to some of the most famous Croatian wine producers. Nearly all of these wineries work with the red Croatian wine grape Plavac Mali, which can give stunning results on both islands.

Watch “Cracking Croatian Wine in Brač & Hvar” on Exotic Wine Travel YouTube:

Timestamps: Cracking Croatian Wine in Brač & Hvar

(1:02) Join us on a ferry trip from mainland Dalmatia to the island of Hvar. The beautiful ferry ride gives way to spectacular views of the Makarska Riviera. Once on the island, a small two-lane road transverses the island all the way to Hvar Town.

(1:37) Check out the Pitve Tunnel. This 1.4 kilometers long tunnel connects the north side of the island to the steep slopes of the south side. It is a one-lane road that is governed by a traffic light on each side of the tunnel. Traveling through the tunnel gives way to Hvar’s beautiful and wild southern slopes.

(2:07) Join us for a visit and tasting at Plenković – Zlatan Otok winery. This was one of the first private wineries established in Croatia. The property features the Zlatan Otok winery, a guesthouse, and a restaurant/marina.

(2:52) Have dinner with us and try a local specialty Gregada. This is a fish stew that locals used to make with whatever ingredients they had at their disposal.

(3:54) Meet Nikola Plenković, son of the late Zlatan Plenković. Nikola talks about the history of the winery and how the Pope helped in the success of Zlatan Plavac Mali.

(4:56) Check out the UNESCO World Heritage site known as the Stari Grad Plain. This is the oldest continuously planted vineyard spot in the world, dating back to the 4th century BC.

(5:24) Get familiar with some modern wineries on Hvar including Carić, Vujnović, Plančić, and Ahearne Vino.

(5:46) Come with us to taste wines in the village of Jelsa. This village is home to Tomić, another Croatian wine pioneer. Proprietor Andro Tomić is known for producing soft, international style Plavac Mali that is well-loved by many.

(6:36) Join us for another tasting in Jelsa at one of the cult Croatian wine producers. Duboković produces a number of small production wines in a local konoba. He’s known for his Plavac Mali in addition to several orange wines from grapes like Bogdanuša, Marština, and Pošip. His herb-infused olive oils are worth seeking out as well.

(7:01) Meet Ivo Duboković and listen as he talks about the philosophy behind the winery.

(9:01) Take another ferry ride with us to island of Brač. It’s home to one of Croatia’s most famous beaches the Zlatni Rat.

(9:26) Meet Emil Mehedin of Jako Vino – Stina winery. He takes us on a journey to the steep vineyards of Stina. These exact vineyards don the cover of our book Cracking Croatian Wine: A Visitor-Friendly Guide.

(10:08) Taste with us at the Stina cellar. The stone building used to house a socialist cooperative winery during the times of Yugoslavia.

(11:18) Take one more ferry ride with us back to the Dalmatia mainland and Croatia’s second-largest city Split. The city is near Trogir, where Carole Meredith and her team from the University of California Davis tracked down the original Zinfandel, known locally as Crljenak Kaštelanski or Tribidrag.

(11:44) Stay with us at one of the newest hotels on the Dalmatian coast, Hotel Ola.

(12:03) Have dinner with us at Black Pepper Restaurant. This is a modern Mediterranean restaurant that has a contemporary take on classic dishes from the region. The food is innovative and delicious.

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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!

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

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 In Brač & Hvar appeared first on Wine Travel.

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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:

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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!

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

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.

During a whirlwind five days, we covered all four of Croatia’s wine regions (you can find out more about these regions in our book Cracking Croatian Wine). Over that time there were close to one hundred wines on offer for the foreign press to discover. It was a pretty grueling trip with early morning starts, many hours of bus travel, and late nights. In the end, a thorough overview of Croatia was condensed into a few days.

It was a fantastic opportunity to see old friends and taste new vintages. We didn’t discover any new Croatian wines on the trip. We did come across new vintages and our opinions on a few wines changed. Here are 16 Croatian wines worth trying.

Exotic Wine Travel’s Picks

You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.

1. The Croatian Uplands

• Kopjar, Sauvignon Blanc 2017

The Croatian Uplands is adjacent to Südsteiermark, Austria – a premium area for Sauvignon Blanc. This suggests that this part of Croatia has good potential for the grape too. The Kopjar Sauvignon Blanc is explosive but not over the top. It is grassy and pungent with notes of kiwi fruit. It’s round on the palate with bright acidity. It’s quasi-New Zealand style of wine with a snappy, pepper-like finish. It’s not the most stellar Sauvignon Blanc, but it’s a very good effort from this young winery. Score: 88/100

• Korak, Pinot Crni 2016

Korak is one of the premium names in Croatian wine. They pour their hearts into Pinot Noir and it shows in this vintage. The Korak Pinot Noir 2016 has notes of red cherry, vanilla, perfume, and a touch of earth. It’s very elegant and layered, exactly like Pinot Noir should be. The wine is silky smooth on the palate with grippy tannins. Score: 91/100

• Tomac, Classic Brut Nature 2006

Tomac is the name in Croatia when it comes to sparkling wine. The Tomac Brut 2006 is a small lot of bottles that Tomislav Tomac put away to see how they would age. The wine spent over ten years on the lees and has a very autolytic (bready, yeasty) nose. It’s made from Chardonnay and various indigenous varieties from Plešivica, Croatia. The palate is refreshing with lots of white fruit and citrus flavors. It tastes remarkably young, which is surprising considering the nose. There aren’t many notes of bottle age here. The bubbles are fine and persistent and the finish is very long. Once again, Tomac delivers a killer wine. Score: 92/100

Photo from Tomac Winery Instagram page. 

• Petrač, Karizma 2012

The Petrač Karizma is one of Croatia’s most recognizable reds on the local market. The 2012 vintage was warm, which was needed for this blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot. It has a wonderful nose of black & red cherry, mushroom, capsicum, and earth. The oak integration is stellar, it is round on the palate without strong wood flavors. Ripeness can be a problem with this wine, but it’s not an issue in the 2012 vintage. Tannins are developed and round and the finish has persistence (photo below is of 2015 vintage). Score: 90/100

2. Slavonia & The Croatian Danube

• Galić, Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature 2014

This is the first release of methodé traditionelle sparklers from Galić. The Galić Blanc de Blanc Brut Nature NV is a balanced and linear wine made from Chardonnay. It feels light on the palate but the flavors are rich and concentrated. Notes include white pear, white peach, lemon, and biscuit notes. The bubbles are very fine, making this wine all about structure, structure, structure. Score: 90/100 

• Iločki Podrumi Traminac Vrhunsko 2017

A vintage of Iločki Podrum Traminac Vrhunsko was served during the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. It remains to be a solid wine year after year. The wine has a pungent nose with white flower, kiwi, and incense. This vintage is very intense and the flavors are Gewürtztraminer to the tee. It’s a floral white wine with a touch of spiciness and a bitter flower finish.  Score: 89/100

• Antunović, Graševina Premium 2015

The 2013 vintage of Antunović Graševina Premium won a Platinum medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards. This 2015 vintage is the follow up to that award-winning wine. The wine has notes of honey, lemon, baked apple, and white flower. It’s medium bodied with snappy acidity. Rich and luscious yet bone dry on the finish, it’s a role model for wines made from Graševina. Score: 89/100

3. Istria & Kvarner

• Matošević, Grimalda White 2016

The Matošević Grimalda White is fantastic vintage after vintage. It’s made from Chardonnay, Malvazija Istarska, and Sauvignon Blanc aged in French oak. There are notes of melon, herbs, tropical fruit, and a touch of wood. It’s full-bodied and creamy with a touch of spicy notes from the oak. It has generous flavor in the mouth with just the right amount of acidity. We love the oak integration in this wine year after year. Score: 91/100

• Meneghetti, White 2016

The Meneghetti White and Meneghetti Red are the flagship wines from this estate. Both new releases are wonderful. The Meneghetti White is a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc aged in French oak and has notes of tropical fruit, oak, and peach with a touch of yogurt. The wine is full-bodied and ripe. The wood might be a bit much for some but it’s delicious and reminds us of the barrel fermented whites from Friuli Venezia-Giulia. Score: 90/100

* We also highly recommend the newest vintage of Meneghetti Red 2012. Year in and year out, it’s one of Croatia’s top Bordeaux blends.

• Benvenuti, Anno Domini Teran 2015

The 2013 Benvenuti Teran won a platinum medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards. While that vintage is delicious, we prefer the 2015 a little more. It’s juicy and full of blood iron, raspberry, cherry, and cedar notes. The wine has high acidity and is juicy with some Italian flair. Aggressive tannins but delicious with food. The sharp acidity may bother some but it’s a perfect pairing with tomato-based pastas. Score: 92/100

• Boškinac, Cuvée 2015

The Boškinac Cuvée is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon aged in oak for 18 months. We’ve had many vintages of this wine and this may be the most approachable vintage to drink young. It acts like a Super Tuscan, full of red fruit, graphite, and sweet tobacco flavors. Elegant for a Mediterranean Bordeaux blend with a backbone of acidity. This wine has a history of aging beautifully. Score: 92/100

4. Dalmatia

• Ahearne, Rosina 2016

Master of Wine Jo Ahearne crafted this rosé with the unique grape Drnekuša. In terms of color, the Ahearne Rosina 2016 looks like an orange wine in the glass. It has notes of strawberry, rose petal, and minerals. The flavors are in between a rosé wine and an orange wine. The tangerine-like acidity stretches the long finish. Score: 91/100

• Baković, Pošip 2016

Hrvoje Baković is a small producer on the island of Brač. Baković gets Pošip grapes from the island of Korčula for this wine. There are notes of pineapple, lemon, lime, and mineral notes. It’s fresh and fruity with a wonderful tanginess and just a touch of aged notes and a persistent finish. We had this a year ago and it’s showing better after some time in the bottle. Score: 89/100

• Bibich, BB (Babić) 2016

Bibich is one of the big names in Croatian wine, they export a lot of their wine, especially to the USA. The Bibich BB is a brand new bottling from the winery, it’s made from the indigenous grape Babić. There are notes of plum, meat, Mediterranean herbs, and a touch of violet in the glass. It’s ripe, rich and generous on the palate. The spicy finish with firm tannins adds up to a beautiful Mediterranean red wine. Score: 90/100

* We also recommend the latest vintage of Bibich Bas de Bas 2015. It’s an old-world style Syrah with impeccable drinkability.

• Duboković, Moja M 2010

We’ve written about this beautiful wine before and it showed well again on this trip.

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. Score: 92/100

• Saints Hills, E.T. Dingač 2011

A barrel selection of wines from a special vintage of Dingač. The Saints Hills E.T. (Ernest Tolj) Dingać 2011 was bottled and sold off in an auction for charity. It is rich and has Bordeaux-like flavors and silkiness coupled with the structure and tannins of Plavac Mali. Notes of black cherry, licorice, rose petal, and oak. It’s full-bodied, plush, and highly polished. The tannins are sweet and biting which guide the long finish. Some may complain that this tastes a little too international, but you can’t deny the high quality of the wine. Score: 94/100

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!

We were guests of the Grand Cro Association which provided for meals and accommodation. 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 Grand Cro Croatian Wine: 16 Wines Worth Trying 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.

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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.

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• 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.

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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.

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