A guide to gifting Croatian wines

Choosing a gift from many indigenous varieties from Istria, Dalmatia and the northern regions? Photo Source: Croatian Premium Wine

By: Mirena Bagur

I am frequently asked about the best Croatian wine to gift.  And, I frequently answer  “it depends.” The reality is that whether you get the wine in your local store or via the online shop in the US , in Canada, Europe or Australia, with many indigenous Croatian wines, it can be confusing. 

With the holidays approaching, here is how to solve that dilemma — ask yourself these five questions about the “giftees”:

Have they visited or do they come from a specific area in Croatia? 

The best wine you can give to someone is the wine they are emotionally attached to – whether because of their ancestry or of a memory of vacation. So, pick Graševina for someone from Slavonia, or get a bottle of wine from Dalmatia to help them relive their island-hopping trip. 

Do they have a sophisticated wine palate?  

If so, get them some special editions, or special appellations, like Dingač, Komarna, Plešivica or Motovun and Buje. For example, for a Plavac Mali fan, try some of the reserve Plavac from Rizman, Terra Madre, Grgić Vina or Volarević wineries and select different styles – from elegant and smooth to very robust ones. Or if Teran is a preferred red, we suggest Kabola Amphora Teran or Fakin Il Primo Teran. 

Are they familiar with Croatian wine varieties?

If they are, try them on all different styles of one variety, e.g., get a few different Pošips, Malvazijas, or Plavac Malis. Or alternatively, pick a region and select a few bottles from the same area. If they are not, picking a bottle or so from each region might work the best.

What is their preferred international wine variety?  

For example, if one prefers a Sauvignon Blanc vs. Chardonnay, we highly recommend Graševina, Grk, or Pušipel. All are crisp and can have citrussy notes. If they are leaning toward Chardonnay, have them taste some Debit or Pošip, particularly if oaked. Similarly for the reds, are they a Pinot Noir or a Cab lover? If Pinot Noir, choose some lighter, fresher, younger vintages of Teran, Babić and Plavac Mali, or if they prefer a big Cab, pick Dalmatian bottles with older vintages, with a lot of oaking and robust aroma.

Lastly, bubbles vs. dessert wine?  

Knowing their style, you cannot go wrong with a selection of dry bubbles or dessert wines, which all add a lot of pizzaz to any occasion. 

I hope this helps your gift-giving approach to your favorite Croatian wine lover! If all else fails, you can always choose a Gift Certificate (search for “gift”) to send. Particularly if you are not sure if the wine will arrive in time – the shipping constraints the transport industry is already experiencing make schedules unpredictable.

Živjeli!

About the author:

Mirena Bagur, MBA, Co-Founder and VP/Brand Management, of Croatian Premium Wine Imports, Inc., www.croatianpremiumwine.com, online store shipping to most US states, was born and educated in Croatia. Always up for adventure, after college years in Zagreb, Croatia, Mirena traveled around the world and settled in Boston, Massachusetts, where she had a career in global marketing. While promoting the wines of Croatia, Mirena is thankful for her parents who instilled in her appreciation for the Croatian community, history and culture, for her children who love the Croatian culture, but lovingly mock her accent, and her husband who is her partner in crime.