A Croatian Wine Tasting

A Croatian Wine Tasting – Episode #553

October 7, 2008

Gary Vaynerchuk Tastes 2 Whites and a Red from Croatia.

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Comments on this episode(245) Leave a comment ›

“Hi there, grat show, and just one addition….

Since some of the fo…” by vedran
“Kristo comments on the wines made on the southern coast of Hvar and su…” by richard
View all 245 ›

Wines tasted in this episode:

2006 Vivoda Malvazija
2006 Kutjevo Mihalj Graevina
2004 Zlatan Otok Plavac Mali

245 Responses

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August 14, 2009

vedran
Hi there, grat show, and just one addition….

Since some of the folks here mentioned Dinji, Dingsomething, etc., I would like to explain relations a bit…

So Dingach actually (Dinga? in Croatian) is a terrain on Peljesac peninsula, south of Croatia, near Hvar Island (and even more south). That particular spot is planted with Plavac Mali grape.
This is a steep side of coast that can be reached only by the foot, or (most likely still) by the mule….Sun is always on that wineyards, and additionaly reflecting from the sea.

That is from where Dingach brand is, and in Croatia is known as THE wine from Adriatic Coast.

It’s the “noble” kind of Plavac Mali, very rich in flavours, very strong in alcohol, even more expensive than the usual Plavac, and definitly not for the faint-hearted

Second interesting brand from Pelješac peninsula is “Postup”, wich is another terrain there. Grape is also Plavac Mali.

In a fact, when you say “Plavac” in Croatia, you think “Pelješac”, really, not Hvar. Winemakers from Hvar started earlier to invest in cellars than ones from Pelješac, actually, so they did really good work….

but if you ask any of older people (or us younger enthusiasts), for a plavac, most of them (us) would say “Dingach”

I really recommend, if you could get to it. Try the Miloš, Mili?i?,Kiridžija cellars (they are all name of families actually).

Regards from Croatia.
June 27, 2009

richard
Kristo comments on the wines made on the southern coast of Hvar and suggests that there is a grape called Ivan Dolac. The primary grape on the southern coast of the island is plavic mali which is one of the parent strains of the zinfandel grape in CA and the Italian Primitivo. Ivan Dolac is actual a village that has at least two family owned producers and perhaps more. I have only visited two but it is a small village (<200 population) and both grow the earthy, high sugar plavic grape. Wonderful wines and wonderful people but a town, not a grape. Just down the road is Sv. Nedjelja (Saint Sunday)with a couple terrific restaurants and the Zlatan winery and new tasting room. Bring a designated driver and taste the several producers on the south side if you love REALLY BIG REDS. Wine bars are called knobas and almost always worth a visit. Enjoy!
June 16, 2009

Kristo
Well… To me and in the world around me
June 12, 2009

Koshpa
It’s pretty courageous to call Posip best Croatian white wine
June 9, 2009

Kristo
Plavac (the last one) is one of many authentic Croatian grape sorts and the wine shown here is one of but not the best brand for it. You should try one named “Ivan Dolac”.

The price is due to very limited area of steep hills where it grows. Most of the time it is impossible to approach with any machines and people just have to do all by hands and use donkeys for transport.

There are special micro locationas that are specially appreciated – Postup and Dingac on Peljesac peninsula and the island of Hvar. Different locations get different sun and it make big difference.

Between them there is island of Korcula that brings best Croatian white wine Posip – a dry white wine. Island Vis brings another great white wine Vugava. Both of them go over 13% and even 14% of alcohol.

It’s an area to explore for wine (and food) lovers.
May 14, 2009

Koshpa
Hi! Today I’ve seen this episode, and I’m quite pleased how our Coratian wines are rated on this show. There are few things I couldn’t agree with. First of all, continental wines are not just about quantity and zero quality. There are a lot of wine makers on the continental part of Croatia which have excellent white wines (Ivan Enjingi is one of them). I will agree with the part where you mention that white wines are of majority on the continent but its quality is improving every day, and nowdays almost all the wines are of very good to excellent quality. To mention a few: sauvignon blanc, welsh riesling (grasevina), rhein riesling, chardonnay, pinot blanc, traminac. Some of the red wine that are present on the continent are: cabarnet sauvignon, pinot noir, frankovka, merlot, zweigelt, portuguese
Red wines are of better quality in the southern part of Croatia because of the high number of sunny days on the Mediterranean. Zinfandel (Plavac), merlot, babic, are some of the most common red wines you’ll find in Mediterranean part of Croatia. Also there is Istria (Istra) where you’ll find Malvazija (mentioned in this clip), Zlahtina both white wines, and also teran which is also famous in that part of Croatia.
And yes, Croatian wines are more appreciated in the world than Slovenian, by far.
January 23, 2009

Dessert Wine Nerd
Never would have thought of some big time wines comming from Croatia. Good for them. I hope they can continue to bring it in the future. QOTD: Still have to say so far the Royal Tokaji 5 Puttonyos.
November 11, 2008

yowens
One of your best. I’ve really gravitated to the shows about wines I know nothing about about cool producers. QOTD: I think I;ve had one- it was a Greek white which was so-so
November 11, 2008

joe trdinich
Gary, quite a bit behind on my viewing, as I just got to your Croatia episode. I am of Croatian descent and when my son graduated from college in 2004 he spent 6 weeks touring Croatia. I went and spent the last week with him and we drank many wines during the trip. We also had a Plavac while there and liked it so much we brought a bottle home. I stuck it in as a mystery wine during our next wine group blind tasting and it was a big hit with everyone! Glad to see you liked it. Hope that you can find it and put it in stock. I’d love to buy a few bottles!
November 2, 2008

Logan
Cool episode Gary, keep trying new things and expanding your and everyone else’s palates!

QOTD: Never had an Eastern European wine but will try wine next chance I get. I’m a big Zinfandel fan- next time I’m on a date with some extra cash to spend will definitely try a Plavac! Also BTW great to see you give out another 93+! Don’t be bashful when you really like something!
October 30, 2008

MattUD
Haven’t had one as of yet. Doubtful they have many in my area.
October 21, 2008

YoungDave
QOTD: WHOA- weird that my favorite Eastern European wine was also a Dijnac Plavac Mali from Croatia, and although it wasn’t as much of a game-changer as this one, it was VERY affordable at 12 bones and I was quite pleased with what it brought.
October 19, 2008

Kristen
“Smells like a zebra.” Classic- I could definitely see you running up to a zebra just to smell it! And ostrich is fabulous!So is pheasant. Yum.

QOTD: Do you consider Greece to be Eastern Europe or is that more Mediterranean? If yes, then I’ve had several Greek wines (Macedonikos is great) and a Hungarian white- Olivier.
October 18, 2008

TimCub
QOTD: I spent six months in Bulgaria teaching English for six months in 1996 and had a few interesting Bulgarian wines while I was there. I found some Bulgarian wines later while visiting a liquor store in Great Britain a couple years later, but unfortunately I can’t remember much about them other than that they were really, really cheap, especially then, and kinda tasty for my 23 year old palate.
October 15, 2008

Chrisfs
Had a Croatian wine, but it was not very good. Glad there are much better ones out there.
October 14, 2008

Maggie J
I must find some Croatian wine!

And you must try some Moldovan wine! I bring this up again…there is a lot of demi-dulce grape juice around, but we had some great stuff, both Milestii Mici and Cricova…unfortunately we could not get anyone to ship to the states or we would have sent you one. Not sure why shipping to the states was so difficult.
October 13, 2008

Dan-o
GV – pretty cool show. Never had an Eastern European wine. I have heard good things about Hungarian Tokai, but have not had that wine either.
October 13, 2008

pirano
Nicely done, I was just in Istra a few days ago. There are some great wines in the area. One thing though: You mention that Istra is close to the Italian border. As the crow flies, that’s true. But there is a small country, with lots of good wine of its own, squeezed in between the two.
Cheers!
October 13, 2008

MannyPants
QOTD: None. GV – where the heck can we find this croation wine, I certainly don’t see any at the local market?
October 13, 2008

ShawnDK
I’m so excited right now! I gotta get me some of that! Although… how!? I’ll figure it out.

QOTD: None
October 12, 2008

Kezza
No eastern European wines for me yet! I’ll keep an eye out for that last one though!
October 12, 2008

drew ross
QOTD: none

But with all of the Greek wines out there, and with GVs enthusiasm for them, I’m going to have to seek some out. Gotta try new flavors – just gotta.
October 12, 2008

Drew M.
QOTD…I can now say I’ve had the Zlatan Plavac Mali that you tried on the show. I found a few bottles here in SoCal. Seriously good…worth the search.
October 12, 2008

Jim in Atlanta
QOTD – I have had some good wines when in Hungary and The Czech Republic. I can’t remember what they were, but there were a number of different grapes and styles.
October 11, 2008

BargePlus
Finding that Plavac is just one reason the journey is so wothwhile.