Before visiting Croatia this past winter, I was woefully uninformed of the huge range of excellent wines produced in this country. From tannic whites to big reds, Croatia has been consistently producing some of the best wine in the Mediterranean since the dissolution of Yugoslavia in 1991. With some regions having evidence of wine-making going back at least 2500 years, Croatia boasts a strong history of viticulture and some of the tastiest wines going - all for a fraction of the price of Italian and French varietals.

THE WINE REGIONS OF CROATIA

Despite being a fairly large country, Croatia has only 4 million residents, all of whom reside in one of the four chief winemaking regions; Dalmatia, Istria, Slavonia and the Central Region. Dalmatia, always popular with tourists is home to towns such as Dubrovnik, Hvar and Split. Istria is the northwestern ‘triangle shaped’ peninsula of Croatia, and has been a leader in wine and gastronomy for millenia. Slavonia is the home of Graševina, Croatia’s most common table white. However, Graševina can be very tasty, and you should definitely try some when visiting, just try to avoid the house version, hangovr inducing stuff. Located near Zagreb, the Central Region is the official fourth winemaking region, producing whites like Škrlet and sparkling wine.

GET TO KNOW CROATIAN WINES

• Plavac Mali is the predominant red grape in Dalmatia. It’s tannic, pretty alcoholic, but can be extremely good. In fact, Plavac Mali is my favourite Croatian wine. The best appellations for this drop are from Dingač, Postup, and Ivan Dolac. Plavac Mali pairs extremely well with meat dishes and hearty pastas.

• Pošip is a Dalmatian white. The best have nice acidity, fruity aromas and a nice round body, and are very good on the back end, with a lovely mouth feel. Producers like Grgić, Krajančić, and Korta Katarina are fantastic. I sampled way too much of their stuff while in Croatia.

• Zinfandel is the daddy grape of Plavac Mali. Look for Bedalov, Krolo, Mimica, and Grabovac, all of which are excellent. Croatian Zinfandel greatly outstrips that of America and South Africa, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a bad one on a restaurant menu in Croatia, especially on the Dalmatian Coast.

• Malvazija is the best varietal from Istria. Fresh, light, aromatic and quite acidic, it’s perfect all year round, but certainly does pair well with long, hot summer days and good company. Goes well with seafood. Try and get anything by Kozlović, Benvenuti, Coronica and Trapan.

• Teran is an indigenous Istrian red. Slightly lighter than the Dalmatian reds, Teran is a soft fella, and is acidic, less tannic, and pairs well with Istrian-styled pastas. Look our for bottles by Coronica and Benvenuti.

best places to try croatian wine

• Bibich Winery: located in Skradin, Bibich is one of the premier producers to have emerged in Croatia since the fall of Yugoslavia in 1991. Producing a range of excellent wines, Bibich is both a place to get a degustation of wines, or a 5 course meal. While I haven’t eaten there, the wine they produce is truly remarkable, and the tsting experience at the winery is extraordinary. You’ll learn a lot about the winery, the history of wine production in the area, and taste some very, very nice wine. Bibich winery: Zapadna Ulica 63, 22222, Plastovo

• Monika’s Wine Bar: Tucked away in the heart of Split, Monika’s Wine Bar is the place for anyone looking to get a serious introduction for Croatian wine. Serving up wine by the glass and by the bottle, Monika is a local legend, and is a trained somellier from a long lineage of winemakers. Stop by for a tasting, a glass and a chat, you’ll definitely learn something. Monikas Wine Bar: Ul. ban Mladenova 1, 21000, Split.

• Wine Station Trapan: My personal favourite on this list, Wine Station Trapan is located in Istria, a famed food and wine region. They offers up tastings, where you’ll try seven Croatian wines, all of which taste amazing, for a fair price, and with a distinct lack of pretension apparent in many other wineries throughout Europe. Would thoroughly recommend. Wine Station Trapan: Giordano Dobran 63, 52204, Šišan

• Korta Katarina Winery: Hidden away in southern Croatia, Korta Katarina Winery make some excellent wine, of particular note, the Posip and the PLavac Mali. Visitors to the winery are invited to do a full tasting, or stay in one of the attached villas, an experience that I sorely wish I had done! Korta Katarina Winery: Ul. Bana Josipa Jelačića 3, 20250, Orebić

• Degarra Winery: Located in the central wine making region of Croatia, Degarra Winery specializes in producing some excellent whites, and visitors can choose from a tasting flight of 3,5 or 7 wines. I’m greedy, so I’ll always be opting for the 7 course option. The wine they make is fantastic, the guys working there very hospitable, and the surrounding area extremely beautiful. Degarra Winery: Put Vrela bb, 23000, Zadar