The Best Wine Tasting Experiences on Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast
With its pristine beaches and clear Adriatic waters in every hue of blue, plus spectacular ancient cities like Split and Dubrovnik, Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast satisfies beach lovers and history buffs alike. But this southern region of the country also has a long, rich history of wine-making that dates back thousands of years.
Once part of the Venetian empire, Dalmatia (which includes Split, Zadar, and Dubrovnik), reveres wine just as the Italians do, yet the 40 or so varietals grown here are little-known outside the area. And that’s a shame because they’re fantastic - especially the spicy red Plavac mali (the original Zinfandel grape) and the minerally, full-bodied white Pošip.
What’s the best way to get familiar with these unique wines? By drinking them, of course, and preferably on the stunning Dalmatian coast.
Sample Dalmatian Wines in Split
Split is one of Croatia’s prettiest coastal cities — famous for its ancient Old Town anchored by the remnants of Diocletian's Palace, a vast seafront fortress dating from the 4th century AD.
The surrounding maze of narrow white-stone streets are home to a large number of bars and restaurants, nearly all of them exclusively serving regional wines. Get familiar with these unique varietals at Zinfandel Food and Wine Bar, which offers 30 wines by the glass (and more than 100 bottles on its wine list), with many coming from boutique area producers.
Its wine flights are a great place to start, consisting of four 4-ounce glasses poured by knowledgeable waitstaff who provide just the right amount of history and tasting notes so you know what you’re sipping. Try the “Last Stop Zinfandel” flight, where you’ll explore the heritage of the Dalmatian Coast’s red varietals, from which California’s renowned Zinfandel is derived.
Discover the lesser-known wines of Brač
The island of Brač isn’t as swanky as its neighbor Hvar, with its luxury hotels, upscale restaurants, and yacht-lined harbor. It also doesn’t have Hvar’s celebrated 2,500-year-old wine-growing history, due in large part to its unforgiving, limestone-studded soil. But a few enterprising winemakers began re-cultivating native grapes on Brač’s rocky slopes about a decade ago, with the most successful being Stina Winery.
Stina — conveniently located just across from the Split-Brač ferry landing in Bol, the island’s main town — serves some very nice wines in a lovely setting. It’s housed in a former Dalmatian wine cooperative dating from 1903, and the tasting room is both modern and old-world, with a sleek, bottle-lined bar surrounded by high walls of traditional white Brač stone.
You can stop in anytime the cellar is open for a taste of its award-winning Pošip whites, fantastic minerally rosés, and variety of local reds, or at 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. for a half-hour tour, no reservation necessary.
Sip wine with amazing Adriatic views
Yes, the wines at Kraljevski Vinogradi are delicious, but the chief reason to visit this winery — a 15-minute drive from historic Zadar — is for the idyllic setting: on a hilltop offering stunning views of the Adriatic and surrounding mountains. Stroll the grounds with a glass of crisp white Pošip or ruby red Plavac mali, weaving through fields of lavender and olive trees, with the blue waters just beyond. Time your visit to the sunset, when the golden light bathes the vineyards and a cool breeze blows in from the sea.
There’s a tasting room but sipping al fresco is best — there are plenty of seats scattered all around the property. Or book an outdoor table at the winery’s tavern and have an authentic Croatian lunch or dinner (with a focus on seafood) paired with award-winning wines.
Sleep among the vineyards
The hills of the Pelješac Peninsula (about 30 miles northwest of Dubrovnik) are studded with traditional wineries, most of which produce Croatia’s most popular wine, Plavac Mali. One of the newest is Korta Katarina Winery, established in 2006. There’s a state-of-the-art tasting room and fancy restaurant, but what really sets this winery apart is that you can stay on the premises — in a magnificent stone villa overlooking the Adriatic. As a member of Relais & Chateaux and Virtuoso, ATG clients staying at Villa Korta Katarina are eligible for upgrade priority, complimentary breakfast, hotel credit, and more.