Almost 50 Croatian labels scored 90+ in Wine Enthusiast in the last 12 months 

(Image: Supplied)

Plavac Mali, Teran, Malvasia and Pošip Most Rated; One Cellar Selection, Two Hidden Gems 

NEW YORK, NY, September 4, 2023:  The Croatian Wine Alliance, a group of global and US-based teams promoting Croatia and its wines, is pleased to announce that in the last 12 months of Wine Enthusiast magazine 

Buying Guide it featured a total of 49 wine labels from Croatia which earned more than 90 points (on a scale of 1-100), with the latest 11 added to the November issue as of today. 

“It is rewarding to have the ever-increasing quality of Croatian wines backed by Wine Enthusiast ratings, and I urge everyone to explore the many indigenous varieties, be they rated or not,  and whether you order them in restaurants, buy on-line, or in your favorite stores,” said Mirena Bagur, co-founder of the  U.S. importer and online retailer Croatian Premium Wine Imports, Inc.  and leader of the Croatan Wine Alliance. “I also encourage trade and media following international wine scene to join the Virtual Masterclass on Plavac Mali, with experts from the Croatian agricultural and tourism organizations, editor of Croatian wine magazine, importers, and winemakers, including from Grgich Hills, Saints Hills and others, to learn about the variety and its various expressions. And of course, visit Croatia as the wines are best understood in their local destination!”

The Plavac Mali Masterclass is taking place on September 14, Noon Eastern Time. To register and receive the secure Zoom link, click here http://eepurl.com/iyrzqc (and check your spam box for the automatic response).

Three Wine Enthusiast Buying Guides:  90+ Scored Wines include Six Golds, and over 40 Silvers

In the last 12 months, the top-performing Croatian varieties were as follows:

Plavac Mali, from the region of Dalmatia, with numerous labels = ranging from 90-99 points, including six entries receiving 95+, including most notable 99 points scored by Saints Hills 2019 Ernest Tolj Plavac Mali (Dingač, Dalmatia; SRP: $150), and today additional Saints Hills 2020 Plavac Mali, scored 97 points and the Cellar Selection notification, (Dingač, Dalmatia; SRP $70) , made in partnership with Michel Rolland and both of which previously scored over 95. Additional Plavac Mali, from the Komarna appellation, Volarević Plavac Mali Platinum Edition 2018, scored 95 (Komarna, Dalmatia; SRP: $119

Ernest and Ivana Tolj at Saints Hills Winery (Image: Supplied)

Teran, from the region of Istria, with 95 points awarded to Fakin Wines Il Primo Teran, immediately followed by Kabola.

Malvasia, from the regions of Dalmatia and Istria, with entries from Crvik Winery, Dubrovački Podrumi, Fakin Wines, Kabola and Saints Hills

Pošip, from Dalmatia, with entries from Black Island winery, Volarević, Korta Katarina, and Saints Hills

Notable is also Zinfandel, proven by the UC Davis study to be genetically the same as Tribidrag or Crljenak kaštelanski and that it originated from Croatia, with entry from Dubrovački Podrumi

The Cellar Selection just went to Saints Hills and two Hidden Gems went to indigenous varieties – 94 scored for Antunović Graševina and 94 for BIBICh Babić. International varieties included Chardonnay and Grenache, and two wine labels were also listed on the Wine Enthusiasts’s  100 Best in 2022 – Volarević Plavac Mali Gold Edition 2016 (94), and Saints Hills Le Chiffre Chardonnay 2020 (94).

About the Croatian Wine Alliance – a Public-Private Collaboration

Lead by Croatian Premium Wine Imports, Inc., an online store shipping 90+ indigenous Croatian wines throughout the US, the Croatian Wine Alliance is an international group of organizations united in raising awareness of premium Croatian wines. Members include Wines of Croatia, https://vinacroatia.hr/en/; the Croatian Chamber of Commerce; the Croatian National Tourist Board, https://croatia.hr/en-gb; many importers and distributors in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Europe; and many Croatian wineries.  

For a complete list of wines and scores in the November, please click here