Dalmatia
Coastal Region
Dalmatia, Croatia’s sunniest region, is one of the country’s most important wine-growing areas. With over 2,700 hours of sunshine per year, the region offers ideal climatic conditions for grape cultivation. Wine-growing here has a deep-rooted tradition: for centuries, grapes have been an essential part of everyday life, literally a source of life. In the often harsh conditions of the Karst landscape – characterized by small, uneven plots and long, dry summers – generations of Dalmatians have managed to build their lives around wine growing.
What makes Dalmatia special is its exceptional biodiversity of grape varieties. The region is home to hundreds of indigenous grape varieties, some of which rare or endangered. Through the efforts of local winemakers, several varieties have been rescued and recultivated, making a valuable contribution to the conservation of genetic diversity within European viticulture.
The wine region stretches from the town of Zadar in the north to Dubrovnik in the far south, and borders Montenegro. Major urban centres such as Zadar, Šibenik, Split and Dubrovnik form the backbone of the region. In addition, the many islands – such as Hvar, Korčula and Vis – play a crucial role in wine production, both historically and in modern winemaking practices. Dalmatia combines rich tradition with a strong potential for innovation, offering unique opportunities for quality-oriented wine production and international positioning.
An important side note is that Dalmatia is a vast region consisting of three parts namely North, Central and South (where the temperature reaches 22°C in the growing season). The summers are hot and the winters mild with quite a lot of rain. In addition, there is the so-called hinterland (Zagora) where the vineyards are located in valleys between the hills and Karst fields. The latter have deep alluvial soils with mainly clay and loam. Dalmatia has many islands and on some of them good quality wines are produced.
Grape varieties of Dalmatia
In the heart of the Adriatic coastline lies Dalmatia, a region that reflects its character in its wines – powerful, warm and full-bodied. Central and southern Dalmatia are known for their medium to full-bodied white and red wines. Here, the warm Mediterranean climate translates into rich aromas, a robust alcohol content and red wines with pronounced tannins and balanced acidity. Northern Dalmatia and the hinterland, on the other hand, produce wines with a slightly higher freshness, while retaining their full body. These regions all produce exquisite food wines that perfectly complement the local gastronomy.
The beating heart of Dalmatian wine culture is Plavac Mali – the red grape variety that is not only the most widely grown in Croatia, but also forms the basis for some of the country’s most prestigious wines. In central and southern Dalmatia in particular, this grape variety really comes into its own, resulting in powerful, complex wines. Further north, the robust Babić, a red grape with character, shines, while Crljenak Kaštelanski, known internationally as Zinfandel or Primitivo, has deep historical roots in this region. This iconic variety has its oldest known origins here, making Croatia proudly recognized as the birthplace of a globally beloved variety.
For those looking for a lighter, elegant red wine, Plavina offers an interesting alternative. And in addition to the indigenous varieties, international grapes such as Merlot, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah are also successfully cultivated in the sunny vineyards of Dalmatia.
The White Wines of Dalmatia; aromatic, distinctive and unique
Dalmatian white wines are just as versatile. Maraština (also known as Rukatac or Malvasia Bianca Lunga) is ubiquitous and loved for its accessibility and fresh character. In northern Dalmatia we also find Debit and Ugni Blanc – varieties with a strong regional identity.
The islands contribute with unique terroirs and grapes that are not found anywhere else: Pošip and Grk from the island of Korčula, the fresh Bogdanuša from Hvar, and the aromatic Vugava from Vis. Malvasija Dubrovačka from Konavle also contributes to the rich wine tradition of the southern region.
Wine region Pelješac - for the adventurous Foodies
Pelješac is the area to discover for those with a wanderlust soul. This peninsula is a wine region with a collection of top producers concentrated in a small area. Korčula, the nearby island, is also a treasure trove of small wineries worth visiting. Combined with a sunny Mediterranean coast, Venetian architecture and delicious Dalmatian cuisine, the wines of this region are a must to discover. Adriavino is not a travel agency but will help you gain insight into the possibilities and will be happy to connect you with local guides specialized in the wines of this region.
Dingač
The oldest Croatian appelation
Location Dingač together with Postup are together the 2 oldest Croatian appellations (Protected Designation of Origin). and this has a reason. Already in the times of the old Yugoslavia it was noticed that the cultivation from the locations Dingač and Postup, produced exceptional quality grapes for winemaking. Dingač is a hill that has a slope of 60% from the height. Due to the nearby sea and the Karst Mountains in the background, a unique microclimate is created that ensures that there are hardly any bad wine years in this area.
The 3 Suns
The Dingač wine-growing region has a very mild Mediterranean climate. The area is protected from the cold northern winds by a double mountain range. On the southern side of the location, next to the vineyards, there is the deep sea, which acts as a heat regulator and is the best climate correction. In winter, this is expressed in warming of the air and in summer in relief of high temperatures. The light pebbles on the soil surface, the reflection of sunlight from the sea surface ensure maximum utilization of solar radiation, also called the 3 suns. Last but not least, it is worth mentioning the high content of potassium in the soil, which is one of the most important factors influencing the top quality of Dingač grapes and wine.
Matthew Horkey from Exotic Wine Travel talks about the Dingač.
Read more about Dalmatian wines from these Croatia specialists
Taste the unique wine of the 3 Suns
Wine: Dingač
Winery: Matuško
Grape: Plavac Mali
Colour: Red
Alcohol: 14.5%
Location: Potomje
Region: Dalmatia
Year: .2019
Profile:
Full-bodied and elegant, this wine has a rich and rounded taste, a harmonious combination of tannin and sweetness. There are penetrating aromas of violets, concentrated blackberries, blueberries, dried plums, black cherry vanilla, smoked wood and elegant barrique notes. This Dingač is complex and has a long, sweet and aftertaste.
€24,50
incl. VAT
excl. shipping
