International Plavac Mali Day: Croatian indigenous variety celebrated

Global Celebration of the King of the Red: Plavac Mali (Photo: Supplied)

Boston, Massachusetts/ Zagreb, Croatia:  The Croatian-American duo — Dijana Grgić, founder of the Croatian Vinum.In magazine, Zagreb, and Mirena Bagur, founder of Croatian Premium Wine Imports, Inc, a Boston-based online store shipping 101 Croatian wines to most US states, organized an educational webinar about this Croatian indigenous variety to celebrate International Plavac Mali Day on September 21st.

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Samples of Plavac Mali were shipped to select journalist in advance and over 50 of them from US, Canada and Europe learned about Plavac Mali origin, production and key characteristics.  

To open the gathering, Leila Krešić-Jurić, director/North America of the Croatian National Tourist Board welcomed all to virtual Croatia explaining strong connection between the Croatian tourism and gourmet and wine offerings.  

Darko Cenbauer, head of the sector for Viticulture at the Croatian Agency for Agriculture and Food explained current trends in the Croatian wine industry, including its focus on indigenous varieties, while expanding the breath of wine styles to sparkling, skin contact and modern style wine. 

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Joining from Split, Leo Gracin, Doc. Dr. Sc. of Oenology, president of Vino Dalmacije Association and assistant professor at the University of Split, Studies of Mediterranean Agriculture, and Ana Mucalo, Doc. Dr.Sc. of Viticulture, at Institute for Adriatic Crops and Karst Reclamation, gave a scientific overview of Plavac Mali including the overview of the notable appellations in Dalmatia. 

“Plavac Mali is the most important variety in Dalmatia, as well as the main variety in two PDOs, including Dingač, the first Croatian PDO and the recently protected Ponikve,” said Leo Gracin, Doc. Dr. Sc. of Oenology, president of Vino Dalmacije, wine association of Dalmatian region, and assistant professor at the University of Split, Studies of Mediterranean Agriculture. “Plavac Mali achieves a distinctive quality on the steep, southern slopes of the islands and coast of Dalmatia.

The wines from Plavac mali are full-bodied, strong with ripe tannins and pronounced aromas of dark-berry fruit. In addition, by maturing in wooden barrels, this varietal acquires an additional structure and, with its delicate oak aromas, achieves its full potential that only the world’s best wines from warm areas can be proud of.”

The Winemakers’ Perspective

Ivo Jeramaz, winemaker for Grgich Hills Estate, Napa, California, and Grgić Vina, Trstenik, Croatia  joined with a personal and historic perspective about the UC Davis and University of Zagreb study of the variety that discovered that Plavac Mali (vitis vinifera) is a descendant of Zinfandel (aka Tribidrag or Crljenak kaštelanski) created by a natural hybrid with another indigenous variety, Dobričić.  He also added an interesting story on how one cutting from the study’s research in California became a vineyard in California.

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Joining the conversation about the quality of Plavac mali was also Antonija Car-Antunović, assistant winemaker for Saints Hills Winery which has received the highest ratings for its Plavac Mali by the US-based Wine Enthusiasm magazine — from 97 points for its Dingač  to 99 points for ET. 

Notable supporters for the gathering were Tomaž Bakšić, Orbico Adriatic Wines, exporter of Croatian wines in Europe, and Anna Vidučić, brand ambassador at Aroma Wine Co. New York, and founder of National Croatian Wine Day in US. 

About Plavac Mali

Plavac Mali produces several styles of wines, from medium-bodied and easy-drinking, to elegant and robust wines. The aromas in Plavac mali are predominantly dark berries and Mediterranean herbs with expressive tannins, and mineral on the palate. Plavac Mali means ‘little blue’, referring to its appearance, small and dark blue berries. 

Plavac Mali is the third most-planted variety in Croatia accounting for 10% of vineyard surface, according to the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, and due to its distinct taste and a capacity to age well is the most-likely red wine purchased and exported. 

Plavac mali

Croatian Premium Wine Imports

Based in the Boston Metro Area, Mass., CPWI imports, distributes, and online retails indigenous Croatian wines to most US states. The company portfolio includes 101 wines from all Croatian wine regions. For more information, inquiries or to place an online order, visit www.CroatianPremiumWine.com/wine, contact them at [email protected] and follow on Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram