MAIN Wine Europe Croatia

Croatia boasts more than 300 geographically-defined wine regions which produce 67 percent white, 32 percent red and the remaining 1 percent rose wines.

In the harsher, more arid continental part of Croatia, more than 90 percent of the wine produced is white. In coastal areas, the main attraction is red wines, some of which are very outstanding. Just under 10 percent of production is classified as superior wine, a little under 70 percent as quality and around 25 percent as table wine.

The grapes used for whites may not be familiar to Westerners. Gra'evina grapes (sometimes referred to as Graševina) are better known as Welschriesling and the Frankovka grapes you may know as Blaufränkisch.

Coastal Dalmatia's reds are made from Plavac Mali, named for the small blue fruit the vines produce.

Plavac Mali is an offshoot of the true Zinfandel wine grapes. Most of the wine world agrees that the Zinfandel variety is a native Dalamatian grape variety, although Italy was long thought to be the place where it originated.

The coastal red wines produced from this grape are bringing the most attention...and awards...from the international wine community.

Some of the names you'll soon know well are Babic from the island of Hvar as well as Dingac and Postup from the Pelješac Peninsula in Dalmatia.

Some of the sparkling wines produced in Croatia according to the methode championoise make an excellent and nicely priced choice for celebrations... something to keep in mind around the holiday season.

More information about Croatian wine & vineyards around the Web:

Croation Wines - Good overview of Croation wine regions and history including information on regional grape varieties and a list of gold medal award winning wines.

The Guide to the Wine Roads of Istria - This site is not just a treasure of great information on the wines and wine roads of the region, it is also a delight to read. "A great many connoisseurs of Istrian wines will tend to rank the highest the Istrian muscatel or, to be more specific, the muscatel produced in and around Momjan, owing to its gold-like color, intense bouquet of wild clove pink and its exquisite aroma. Dry and sweet. Worthy complement of dessert and many other delicacies. even aphrodisiac power has been attributed to it, especially as regards to virtuous ladies." Enjoy....