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Which Croatian wine suits your taste? If you usually drink Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Merlot, Malbec or Primitivo, this wine guide will help you discover Croatian grape varieties and wines that might suit you. Sometimes reassuringly familiar, sometimes surprisingly different. A simple way to start exploring Croatian wine.
Croatia has around 120 indigenous grape varieties. Fantastic if you enjoy discovering new wines, but perhaps a little daunting when you first find yourself faced with names such as Malvazija, Graševina, Pošip, Frankovka or Plavac Mali. How are you supposed to know which one you are going to enjoy?
That is why we often take a different approach at our tastings. Tell us which wines or grape varieties you normally enjoy and we will suggest a Croatian wine to try. Sometimes that might be a wine made from the same international grape variety, but it becomes much more interesting when we can introduce you to an indigenous Croatian grape or a wine style that matches your taste.
So don't think of this wine guide as a list of exact substitutes. Plavac Mali isn't Malbec and Malvazija isn't Sauvignon Blanc. But if you enjoy the flavour profile and style of one wine, there is a good chance that its Croatian alternative could lead to a very enjoyable discovery.
If you enjoy Cava for its fresh acidity, dry style and fine bubbles, try Vina Belje La Belle Grand Brut. It is a serious Croatian sparkling wine that should feel reassuringly familiar to lovers of dry Spanish bubbles.
If you are looking for a serious brut made using the traditional method, just like Champagne, Croatia has some wonderful alternatives. Try Kabola Re Brut or Bolfan Centurion Gold. Both are excellent choices for anyone looking for greater complexity, structure and refinement in a sparkling wine.
If you enjoy Prosecco and prefer an approachable, fruity sparkling wine with a touch of sweetness, Medea Brut is a lovely choice. It also works particularly well if you are looking for a sparkling wine to use in a wine cocktail such as a Hugo or French 75.
Sauvignon Blanc is typically a fresh, dry white wine with plenty of fruit, lively acidity and sometimes a slightly green or herbal character. It works beautifully as an aperitif, but is equally at home with salads, fish and poultry.
If you prefer to stay close to what you already know, we have a Croatian Sauvignon Blanc in our range with Bolfan Sauvignon Blanc. But at our tastings we like to describe Malvazija as the wine for the adventurous Sauvignon Blanc drinker. If you enjoy the freshness and aromatic character of Sauvignon Blanc but fancy discovering something new, Malvazija often offers a surprising sense of familiarity. Try Medea Malvazija or Kabola Malvazija.
Croatian blends containing Sauvignon Blanc alongside other grape varieties are another interesting direction. Jakovac Cuvée Blanc and Bolfan Zagorski Bregi are two good examples. You retain some of that familiar freshness while discovering an altogether different Croatian character.
Chardonnay can take many different forms, from crisp, fresh wines made without oak to rich, creamy wines with substantial oak ageing. We don't have heavily oaked Chardonnays in our range, but we do have two excellent examples from the lighter end of the spectrum. Enosophia Classic Chardonnay is made entirely without oak, while Enosophia Dika Chardonnay sees only light oak ageing.
And did you know that Chardonnay even has a Croatian family connection? One of Chardonnay's parents is Gouais Blanc, an ancient grape variety known in Croatia as Belina Starohrvatska. So even with one of the world's most famous international grape varieties, Croatia is closer than you might think.
If you normally prefer a full-bodied, oak-aged Chardonnay and are open to something completely different, venture off the beaten track with an orange wine such as Bolfan Aromano or Kabola Unica. They aren't Chardonnay, and certainly aren't substitutes for it, but they do offer the structure, intensity and complexity that lovers of fuller white wines often enjoy.
Chenin Blanc often combines fresh acidity with ripe fruit and, depending on how it is made, can have quite a bit of body. This makes Graševina an interesting Croatian discovery for Chenin Blanc drinkers. Try Enosophia Dika Graševina: fresh and gastronomic, but with enough character to remain interesting at the dinner table.
For Riesling lovers, the transition is an easy one: Bolfan Riesling is made from the very same grape. The relatively cool climate of the hills of Hrvatsko Zagorje helps the wine retain its fresh character and lively acidity. A lovely opportunity to discover how a familiar grape variety behaves on Croatian soil.
If you enjoy Pinot Gris for its fruit, fresh acidity and versatility with food, Enosophia Dika Graševina and Vina Carić Bogdanjuša are interesting Croatian alternatives. Bogdanjuša makes the comparison particularly interesting: you move from an internationally familiar grape to an indigenous Dalmatian variety that is rarely encountered outside Croatia.
Wine writer Hubrecht Duijker once described Pošip as Croatia's answer to Grüner Veltliner, and we think it is a rather nice comparison. Both can combine fresh acidity, fruit, spice and a gastronomic character, although Pošip naturally has its own distinctly Dalmatian identity.
If you enjoy Grüner Veltliner, try Vina Carić Pošip or Skaramuča Pošip. You remain in the world of fresh, food-friendly white wine while discovering one of Dalmatia's most important indigenous white grape varieties.
Albariño is loved for its fresh acidity, expressive fruit and often mineral or slightly saline character. If you are looking for a similar combination of freshness and minerality in Croatia, explore a good Graševina or a fresh Pošip.
They don't taste the same – and that is precisely the point of this page – but they offer interesting directions for an Albariño drinker keen to discover something new. Graševina often combines juicy fruit with fresh acidity, while Pošip can be more Mediterranean and powerful without sacrificing its freshness.
Dry Sémillon can be quite rich and gastronomic, combining ripe fruit with enough structure for more substantial dishes. If that is the style you enjoy, Vina Carić Cesarica and Skaramuča Aria are interesting Croatian alternatives. Both are aromatic white blends with enough body to accompany richer fish dishes and white meat.
Verdejo often combines fresh acidity with fruit, herbal notes and that characteristic subtle bitterness on the finish. Fans of this style may be pleasantly surprised by Graševina or a Croatian white blend in which freshness and aromatics take centre stage.
Try Jakovac Cuvée Blanc or Bolfan Zagorski Bregi. They are particularly interesting alternatives if you enjoy drinking Verdejo with food.
Merlot drinkers often look for a red wine that is rounded, smooth and fruity without overly dominant tannins. Rather than simply reaching for another Merlot, we would therefore love to introduce you to Frankovka.
Try Enosophia Classic Frankovka or Enosophia Dika Frankovka. Both are fruity, approachable reds and offer a wonderful introduction to a grape variety with a long tradition in Croatia.
The classic red Bordeaux blend revolves primarily around grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, sometimes accompanied by other Bordeaux varieties. If you enjoy that combination of dark fruit, structure and spice, Croatia has some interesting alternatives.
Vina Carić Jubo'v, for example, combines the indigenous Plavac Mali with international grape varieties. Feravino Miraz Cuvée is another interesting choice for anyone who enjoys powerful, layered red blends.
Cabernet Sauvignon typically produces structured red wines with dark fruit, plenty of body and noticeable tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon is also grown in Croatia, and Bolfan produces several wines from the grape.
But if Cabernet Sauvignon is your starting point, we would encourage you to try something a little more Croatian. Vina Carić Jubo'v is made with 50% of Dalmatia's famous Plavac Mali grape, alongside Merlot and Syrah. It therefore has something internationally recognisable while still offering a distinctly Dalmatian character.
Looking for even more power and tannin? Skaramuča Plavac Premium is an interesting next step.
Amarone della Valpolicella is famous for its powerful, concentrated style, ripe and dried fruit and often slightly sweet impression. If you would like to explore Croatia from that starting point, Vina Carić Plovac Ploški and Vina Carić Plovac Ploški Barrique are particularly interesting alternatives.
They aren't copies of Amarone, but they are rich Dalmatian red wines offering ripe fruit, power and concentration. The Barrique in particular is a great choice for anyone who loves a full-bodied wine but fancies looking beyond Italy.
If you enjoy Syrah or Shiraz, chances are you aren't afraid of a more powerful red wine. Dark fruit, spice, pepper and plenty of body are all likely to be welcome.
In that case, Skaramuča Dingač, from the famous steep Dingač vineyards on the Pelješac peninsula, is an absolute recommendation. Another excellent option is Skaramuča Plavac Premium. Both are made from Plavac Mali and beautifully demonstrate just how powerful and spicy this Dalmatian grape can become.
In this case, we don't even need to look for an alternative. Frankovka is the Croatian name for Blaufränkisch. So you may already know the grape – just not from Croatia.
Try Enosophia Dika Frankovka if you prefer a lighter, fruitier style. If you are looking for more power and body, go for Feravino Miraz Frankovka.
Malbec lovers often enjoy dark fruit, plums, berries, spice and a wine with plenty of body. If that sounds like your kind of wine, we would suggest trying Skaramuča Plavac Premium.
Plavac Mali certainly isn't Malbec and has its own distinctive Dalmatian character, but its combination of ripe dark fruit, power, spice and firm structure makes it an interesting next step for someone who normally enjoys Malbec.
Carménère can combine ripe dark fruit and black plums with spicy and sometimes slightly green notes such as pepper. If you enjoy that flavour profile and would like to explore a Croatian alternative, Skaramuča Plavac Premium is well worth trying.
Don't expect a copy of Carménère, but rather a powerful red wine with dark fruit, Mediterranean spice and plenty of structure.
This is where the story becomes particularly interesting, because if you drink Primitivo or Zinfandel, you already have a direct connection with Croatia without perhaps realising it. Zinfandel and the Croatian Crljenak Kaštelanski (Tribidrag) are genetically the same grape. Crljenak Kaštelanski, together with Dobričić, is in turn one of the parents of Plavac Mali.
That makes Plavac Mali a particularly enjoyable discovery for lovers of Primitivo and Zinfandel. You won't be drinking the same grape, but you will be discovering one of its very close Dalmatian relatives.
Try Skaramuča Plavac or Skaramuča Plavac Premium. If you prefer the most powerful and concentrated styles of Zinfandel or Primitivo, take it one step further with Skaramuča Dingač.
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is often juicy and fruity, although more serious examples can also offer dark fruit, spice and a slightly smoky character. From that flavour profile, we think Feravino Miraz Frankovka makes a very interesting Croatian alternative.
You will be discovering a different grape and a different wine region, while remaining in a world of ripe dark fruit, spice and enough body to accompany substantial dishes.
Nebbiolo is of course a very distinctive grape, and we aren't going to pretend that Barolo or Barbaresco has a direct Croatian equivalent. But if you love Nebbiolo for its firm tannins, acidity, cherry-like fruit and serious character, Plavac Mali is an interesting Croatian direction to explore.
Depending on how much power you are looking for, start with Skaramuča Plavac and then move on to Skaramuča Plavac Premium or a powerful Skaramuča Dingač.
Tempranillo produces an enormous range of wines, from supple, fruity reds to powerful, oak-aged Riojas with plenty of structure. Lovers of the more robust styles in particular should give Plavac Mali a try.
Skaramuča Plavac is a good introduction. If you are looking for greater concentration and power, you can then move on to Plavac Premium or Dingač.
If you enjoy the distinctive aromatic character of Muscat or Moscato, try Kabola Muškat Momjanski. Muškat Momjanski is closely associated with north-western Istria and offers a wonderful way to discover a familiar aromatic grape family in a distinctly Croatian setting.
If you prefer something fuller, richer and more intense, with more pronounced aromas of dried fruit and raisins, choose Jakov Prošek. It will take you straight into an altogether different Dalmatian dessert wine tradition.
This wine guide is intended primarily as a starting point. Wine simply doesn't work according to a rule that says everyone who likes Sauvignon Blanc will automatically enjoy Malvazija. Origin, climate, soil, winemaking and, of course, your own personal taste all play a part.
But that is precisely what makes Croatian wine so much fun to explore. You can start with a flavour or style you already know and gradually venture further into unfamiliar territory. Perhaps you arrive looking for Sauvignon Blanc and leave having discovered Malvazija. Or perhaps you normally drink Primitivo and its fascinating family story eventually leads you to Plavac Mali and Dingač.
And if you don't know where to begin, have a look at our mixed wine cases. They allow you to taste different Croatian grape varieties and wine styles alongside one another and discover for yourself which Croatian wines best suit your taste.