Wines
Producers
Fakin
The 300-year-old Fakin family winery and organic vineyards are located at the base of Motovun, a midieval village on a hill in Croatia’s Istrian region, where the family also runs a popular restaurant, Kanoba Fakin. What a destination it is! Marko Fakin and his family still live on their ancestral lands where he grew up running through the fields. They grow the predominant Istrian varieties: Teran, Malvaszija, and Muskat. The microclimate here, with the white clay soil and hilly terrain, offer the minerality, freshness, and expressive characteristics of these varieties.
Ritosa Vina
As many Croatian families have, the Ritosa family has been producing wine for centuries for personal consumption. When Ana Ritosa decided to pursue a degree in viticulture in Poreć, the family committed to bringing their small, 2.5 hectare vineyard up to quality standards for limited commercial production. Ritosa Vina produces three autochtonous Istrian varieties, Istrian malvazija, Teran and Muscat rose of Porec, and two world-grape varieties, Cabernet sauvignon and Muscat yellow of Poreč.
Kabola
Kabola’s romantic and picturesque winery is only the icing on the cake. They have a century-long history of winemaking focused on quality amphorae production. Situated in the northwestern Istrian peninsula at 275m above sea level with a view of the Alps and the Dolomites on one side and a sea panorama on the other, Kabola’s vineyards are located near Momjan. The soil consists mainly of clay and is rich in marl, which gives the wines their special characteristics.
Rizman
The Rizman family is credited with initiating the establishment of Croatia’s youngest, the Komarna appellation. They focus on organically growing autochthonous varieties. The winegrowing tradition of the Štimac family dates back to the beginning of the 20th century, which is when the first vineyards were planted by Mijo Popich Rizman, whose name the winery still bears today.
Black Island
Just off the Dalmatian coast of Croatia, in the center of the island of Korčula also thought of as “little Dubrovnik”, the freshwater ponds that feed the vineyards of the village of Smokvica are a remarkable gift of nature. Locals call this place “Merga Victa,” meaning “path for water” in old Dalmatian. It is here that the Black Island winery and vineyards are nestled.
Volarević
The Volarević family vineyards, located in the Komarna appellation on the sunny south of the Dalmatian coast, are run by a father and his four sons. Their wine story begins in 2005 after realizing success as owners of the leading Nursery Prud. One son, Josip Volarević, is working towards his PhD in Oenology and loves experimenting with pure expressions of the robust Plavac Mali grape. The climate and soil in the Komarna region enable organic viticulture. Rocky soil, high temps during the summer, constant Dalmatian winds, cold nights, harsh nature, and biodiversity of flora and fauna create the perfect conditions for grapes to struggle into beautiful quality. Due to these conditions and the robust nature of the plavac mali grape, minimal amounts of copper and sulfer prescribed by the law on Organic Agriculture are used in cultivation.
Terra Madre
Their story began with the planting of first vines on Komarna in 2008 – 100,000 of Plavac Mali and 25,000 of Pošip. This vineyard was officially named in April 2013, and they experienced the joy of their first harvest, the zero harvest, in 2010. Anyone who has managed to cultivate the land and plant their own vineyards, with a lot of effort, emotion and love knows about that special feeling.
Testament
Testament Winery’s 47-hectare, organic, UNESCO-protected Bucavac vineyards are located in Northern Dalmatia, in the immediate vicinity of the medieval town, Šibenik. This is the only place in the world where Babić grapes are grown. Planted 10 years ago, these vines grow on hills sloping towards the Adriatic Sea, receiving a permanent breeze that is evident in the wines. In harsh conditions and in limestone karst with less than 20% soil, the plant is able to produce extremely rich fruit, and one of the most balanced and unique Dalmatian red wines. Testament offers a very special Babić wine which has been aged in amforas in the depths of the Adriatic Sea.