Not Bottled Up: Forbes and Wine Enthusiast celebrating Croatian wines in 2023
- by croatiaweek
- in Food & Wine
From 99 rating to Forbes’ holiday-gifts article, Croatian wineries shine just in time before the holidays
By: Mirena Bagur, Croatian Premium Wine Imports, Inc.
It is a great sense of pride for me that the Croatian wines are no longer a kept secret among only the Croats – at least not according to Wine Enthusiast and Forbes.
This week, Forbes just included Croatia among the top wines to gift in its Holiday Gift Guide 2023: The Most Exciting Wines From Under-The-Radar Regions Around The World where they actually mentioned a great selection of indigenous Croatian wines. Also, a reminder that earlier this year, Forbes published an article on the country’s newest appellation and the importance of sustainability and organic farming Croatia’s Organic Wine Appellation Wins Awards, Balances Nature With Winemaking. Komarna’s vineyards are situated above the Pelješac bridge, and include seven different wineries.
Ivana and Ernest Tolj – owners of Saints Hills Winery, with vineyards in Komarna, Dingač and Istria — celebratory mood after receiving the “Top 100” news?
This is also the first weekend where Wine Enthusiast published ratings where almost 60 Croatian wines, all sold in USA, are rated with 90+ points – the biggest number ever, including one listed in the magazine’s 100 Best of 2023. Croatian wineries with 90+ ratings include 14 wineries — Antunović, BIBICh, Black Island, Crvik, Dubrovački Podrumi, Fakin, Kabola, Korta Katarina, Rizman, Saints Hills, Stina, Terra Madre, Testament and Volarević — all available to purchase and ship in most US states.
The most notable winery is Saints Hills Winery with both the highest rating for Croatian wine of 99 for its ET Dingač Plavac Mali, and its Chardonnay Le Chiffre listed in the Top Best of Wine Enthusiast 2023 list. Dalmatia’s wines have received majority of high ratings, such as Volarević Plavac mali Platinum at 95 points.
It is also encouraging that Istria and Slavonia are getting great recognition particularly Motovun’s Fakin Winery for the Teran Il Primo with 95 points – the best ever for this indigenous red, and Antunović Winery, Dalj, for all three white wine submissions including “Hidden Gem” for its Graševina, the best for the north Croatia.
“This acknowledgment by a US magazine is an additional creative incentive for me, especially when it comes to Graševina, Croatian most-produced white grape variety often called the “wine of grace”, said Jasna Antunović, the first women in Croatia to own a winery. “My son Branimir, who is devoted to the red wine production, and I are delighted that Vina Antunović Grand Selection Wines again received the greatest scores achieved for wines from the continental part of Croatia, and we proudly contribute to raising awareness of premium wine quality from Croatia.”
Jasna Antunović and son Branimir – work and results – all in the family
Whether you are a red or white wine lover, or are interested to exploring sparkling, orange or dessert wine from Croatia, you will not be disappointed given the high goals and accomplishments of Croatian winemakers. Živjeli!
About the author: Mirena Bagur, Mag. Oecc, Co-Founder and VP/Brand Management, of the USA-based and -operated Croatian Premium Wine Imports, Inc., which ships 101 indigenous Croatian wines to most US states, was born and educated in Croatia. Always up for adventure, after a graduate degree in Zagreb, Mirena traveled around the world and settled in Boston, Massachusetts, where she developed a career in global technology marketing. She 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 with whom she continues the adventure of educating the American market about Croatian wine.
