Hobby Vineyards in Croatia
Croatia is one of the world’s oldest wine-growing regions. Zinfandel, the Californian varietal, has its ancestral “roots” in Croatia: “Zin” is genetically identical to Tribidrag (or Crljenak Kaštelanski), which grows on the Dalmatian Coast. There are 66 appellations in the country’s four major wine regions: Dalmatia, Istria and Kvarner, Slavonia and the Croatian Danube, and the Croatian Uplands.
“Croatia is exceptionally suitable for the development of wine growing thanks to its geographic position, diversity of climate, and pedological [soil type] settings,” says Ivan Kovačić, CEO of Remington Realty Serbia. “The country’s four different regions reflect the influence of the Mediterranean, the Alps, and the Pannonian Basin. This diversity of terroirs results in a wide range of wine varieties and styles.”
Graševina (Welschriesling) is the most widely grown grape in Croatia. It’s an aromatic, medium-bodied white wine that thrives in dry climates and warm soils inland. “Its different styles range from light sparkling wines to full-bodied, complex mature wines,” Kovačić says.
“The inland sub-regions produce an array of whites, such as Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Traminer, Grüner Silvaner, and Sauvignon, and red wines, such as Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Blaufränkisch.” Also known as Frankovka, the latter is an intense, ruby colored, medium density wine produced in iron-rich terra rossa soils.
Kovačić adds, “Istria prides itself on Malvasia [an aromatic white wine], Muscat Rose, Muškat Momjanski, and [two indigenous reds] Teran and Borgonja. The Adriatic coast boasts thousands of islands, producing indigenous varieties such as Žlahtina, Maraština, Pošip, Grk, Babić, Plavina, and Plavac Mali.”
Many of these wines, including those from small vineyards, are available to international consumers through Croatia’s growing wine exports.
Remington Realty is listing a hobby vineyard planted with Pinot Gris and Silvaner (or Grüner Silvaner, as it’s more commonly known), an underrated, neutral-scented white wine grown mainly in the Alsace region of Germany. The estate produces about 3,000 bottles annually and includes a storage cellar, wine-tasting and entertainment areas. The 7.4 acres (3 hectares) of picturesque grounds also include formal gardens, an orchard, and a farm with several outbuildings. The main residence offers elegant living spaces and luxurious amenities, including an indoor pool, massage room, sauna, and gym. It’s a rural idyll, seemingly a world away, and yet it’s only half an hour’s drive from Croatia’s capital, Zagreb.
