Croatia: The Wine Country You’ve Been Overlooking

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Croatia is one of Europe’s most compelling yet underexplored wine nations, where geography and history combine to create remarkable diversity in the glass. From the Adriatic coast of Istria and Dalmatia to the continental plains of Slavonia and the green uplands around Zagreb, the landscapes are as varied as the wines themselves. In this episode, Vince travels across these distinct regions to explore how shifting borders, cultural influence, and family tradition have shaped a modern identity rooted in native varieties. Meeting winemakers championing grapes like Malvazija Istarska, Graševina, Teran, and Plavac Mali, he reveals how this Adriatic country has quietly revived one of the most dynamic wine scenes in Europe.

All locations, wines, and wineries are listed at: https://visforvino.com/croatia/

DESCRIPTION:
Croatia surprised me in the best way. I knew there was good wine here, but I didn’t expect this much range, energy, and personality packed into one country. I start in Zagreb to set the stage. Croatia’s history is complicated, borders have shifted, empires have come and gone, and you can actually taste that mix of influences in the wine. I sit for a long lunch at Restoran Korčula, talking through coastal wines and what sea air and heat do to grapes like Plavac Mali and Posip. Then I swing north to Međimurje and Štampar Winery, where the wines feel totally different. Cooler climate, more precision, bright whites, and sparkling wines that show another side of Croatia most people never see. In Slavonia at Kutjevo Winery, we dive into Graševina, Croatia’s most planted grape, tasting both a classic dry style and ice wine. Then it’s west to Istria. At Kozlović in northern Istria, I taste aged Malvazija and Teran and see how this region balances Italian flair with its own identity. A stop in Grožnjan brings a little culture before heading south to Medea Winery, where sea breezes and limestone shape fresh Malvazija and structured reds. The trip wraps with an upscale dinner at Spinnaker alongside several winemakers, reflecting on how far Croatia has come. Different regions, different climates, different vibes. One small country that absolutely overdelivers


CHAPTERS
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:00 Zagreb
00:08:49 Koçula Resturant
00:17:47 Štampar Winery & Međimurje
00:23:10 Croatian Grapes
00:27:26 Varazdin & The Family & Soccer
00:30:07 Kutjevo Winery & Slavonia
00:37:41 Coffee In Porec
00:41:02 Kozlović Winery & Northern Istria
00:47:32 Grožnjan
00:48:49 Medea Winery
00:55:38 Valamar Hotel
00:56:35 Spinnaker Dinner
01:04:34 Outro


SHOUT OUTS:
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WINES FEATURED:
(in order)
Restoran Korčula – Dalmatia
• Rizman Tribidrag (Zinfandel)
• Vicelić Dingač (Plavac Mali)
• Korčula Katari­na Pošip

Štampar Winery – Međimurje
• Urban White (Sparkling)
• Pušipel Classic

Kutjevo Winery – Slavonia
• Graševina de Gotho
• Ice Wine Graševina

Kozlović Winery – Northern Istria
• Malvazija Santa Lucia
• Teran Santa Lucia

Medea Winery – Southern Istria
• Malvazija Istarska
• Punta Greca Merlot

Spinnaker Dinner – Istria
• Deklić Malvazija Konstantin 2020
• Budiński Malvazija OMO 2022
• Trapan Teran Terra Mare 2019
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