Top 100 red wines of Croatia

Discovering the wine region of Croatia

Croatia is an important wine-producing country on the Adriatic Sea, at the western end of Europe's Balkan Peninsula. Formerly Part of Yugoslavia, it borders Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro. Export trade, although modest, has grown over the past two decades. The main Croatian styles are Dry white wines of Grasevina (WelschRiesling) and Malvasia, and rustic, Full-bodied red wines.

These wines are usually made from the Plavac Mali Grape. White wine accounts for about two out of every three bottles produced in the country. In the interior regions, only 10% of the total annual production is red wine. The multitude of indigenous varieties that were once common here has declined alarmingly in recent decades.

Grasevina (Welschriesling) has Long been the preferred white variety in Croatian vineyards. It is supported by the regional specialties Bogdanusa, Grk, Posip and Vugava. The first is so reliable and prolific that it is called a "godsend". The second, Powerful and aromatic, was once considered the Viognier of the Rhone Valley.

Discover the grape variety: Malvasia Nera

Supple, aromatic reds with an intense ruby robe, smooth tannins and a charming palate, showing signature aromas of red fruits (cherry, raspberry), soft spices, balsamic notes (liquorice) and floral nuances. A fragrant profile adding suppleness to blends. A component of Salice Salentino DOC and Brindisi DOC in Puglia, also present in Tuscany. An Italian black variety of the Malvasia family, with no direct genetic link to white Malvasias.

Food and wine pairing with a red wine of Croatia

red wines from the region of Croatia go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, lamb or game (deer, venison) such as recipes of beef and spice stuffed peppers, rack of lamb in a salt crust or duck breast in a crust.

Organoleptic analysis of red wine of Croatia

On the nose in the region of Croatia often reveals types of flavors of cherry, oaky or tobacco and sometimes also flavors of vanilla, mint or non oak. In the mouth in the region of Croatia is a powerful with a nice balance between acidity and tannins.