Dalmatia is home to many indigenous grape varieties, among which Plavac Mali is the most important black grape variety in the entire country. The popularity of this wine region worldwide exploded after it was confirmed that the most popular wine in the USA, Zinfandel, originates from Kaštela near Split, thus from the heart of Dalmatia itself.
However, although Dalmatia is the home of a huge number of fantastic red wines, you can also find excellent white wines here, with Pošip leading the way. Despite covering a relatively small geographical area, this region offers very diverse terroirs, thanks to its many islands, rivers, mountains, and different types of soil.
This is also the reason why we divide Dalmatia as a wine region into three smaller parts: central and southern Dalmatia, northern Dalmatia, and Dalmatian hinterland. Moreover, the oldest continuously cultivated vineyards in the world are located in Dalmatia – the Stari Grad Plain on the island of Hvar is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Classification of Dalmatian wines
Classification of Dalmatian wines
As in the rest of Croatia, wines in Dalmatia are divided into three categories: table wine, quality wine, and premium wine.
Table wine is typically the least expensive wine and represents the lowest-quality products among the three mentioned groups. It can be compared to the German Landwien category or the Spanish Vino de la Tierra. Wines in this category meet the lowest requirements and are made from the lowest-quality grapes, intended for mass production. However, there are some exceptions when it comes to table wines because wines like Duboković have their reasons for labeling their labels with the table wine category even for premium wines like Medvid.
Quality wine is the most common designation for wines in Croatian supermarkets. This type of wine is very popular because it offers fairly high quality to customers at an average price.
Premium wines are wines from Gran Cru locations in Dalmatia. Their price usually ranges from about €10 onwards, but the value and quality that premium wines bring with them are what make Dalmatia so special. Greek and Roman gods chose the Dalmatian islands as places to create their vineyards to drink the best wines in the world. Strong wines. Full of flavor. Concentrated. Exceptional.
Wine Subregions of Dalmatia
Dalmatia is divided into three subregions – Central and Southern Dalmatia, Dalmatian Hinterland, and Northern Dalmatia. There are significant differences between grape varieties and wine styles produced in each of these subregions due to the diverse terroir influenced by mountains, rivers, islands, and the sea.
Northern Dalmatia is home to many international varieties, while Central and Southern Dalmatia are best known for varieties like Plavac Mali and Pošip grown in famous vineyards such as Dingač (the first protected geographical origin of wine in Croatia). Dalmatian Hinterland has several indigenous varieties that are still trying to break onto the big stage, but this subregion undoubtedly has a lot of potential, and its time will surely come.
North Dalmatia
The most famous vineyards of Northern Dalmatia are located from Pirovac to Skradin, as well as in the areas of Primošten, Šibenik, and from Zadar to Biograd. In this subregion, most vineyards are somewhat distant from the coast, except for those in Primošten, which gives the wines of Northern Dalmatia much more freshness and elegance. The wines from this region usually have a slightly less pronounced flavor and can be stylistically compared to some products from certain French regions. For example, some varieties from the Rhône Valley, such as Syrah and Grenache, have found their home in Northern Dalmatia. The Primošten area has a somewhat specific style of wine that is closer to Central and Southern Dalmatia than to this subregion.
Apart from this administrative difference, the styles of Primošten wines are very similar to those from the southern subregion because they are rich and have a fuller flavor. One of the most famous indigenous varieties of black grapes comes precisely from Primošten, and that is Babić. It produces wines of moderate to full flavor with aromas of Dalmatian herbs. The most important white wines in this subregion are the indigenous Debit and Maraština. Debit has a light taste and is very mineral, making it an ideal refreshment for hot Dalmatian summers, while Maraština (also known as Rukatac in Southern Dalmatia) produces complex wines that benefit greatly from aging.
Dalmatian Hinterland
The Dalmatian Hinterland is an upcoming sensation in the Dalmatian and Croatian wine industry. Thanks to its growing popularity, this subregion has managed to revive many indigenous grape varieties. The Dalmatian Hinterland encompasses elements of continental, moderate, and Mediterranean climates within a very small area, depending on which microclimate we observe. Its most famous vineyards can be found in the areas of Benkovac and Stankovci, Skradin, Knin, Promina, Drniš, Imotski, Sinj, Vrlika, the Kaštela Hinterland, and Vrgorac.
The most common black grape varieties here are Lasina in the north (often referred to as Dalmatian Pinot Noir), Trnjak in the south (which is most commonly planted in the vineyards of Vrgorac and Imotski), and Plavina, a relative of Tribidrag (Zinfandel), which is widespread in both the Hinterland and parts of Northern Dalmatia. Their light to moderately strong flavor—although robust, full-bodied wines also exist in this region—positions black wines made from these varieties excellently during the summer heat and tourist season.
Given that tourists in Dalmatia find it challenging to fully enjoy robust wines rich in fruit and with strong tannins, especially in the summer months, the freshness of Trnjak, Lasina, and Plavina from the Dalmatian Hinterland turns these wines into an excellent and very popular choice. The situation is similar here with white wines because Kujundžuša (Imotski), Zlatarica (Vrgorac), and Debit in the north are very mineral and usually have a slightly lower alcohol content. However, this by no means implies a loss of character, and these wines are the easiest to enjoy in the summer without needing to age to reach their peak. Maraština is also widespread in the Dalmatian Hinterland, offering an opportunity for the development of complex white wines.
Central and Southern Dalmatia
Central and Southern Dalmatia is home to some of the most renowned Croatian vineyards where you will witness stunning natural wonders combining the power of the crystal-clear Adriatic Sea and limestone coastlines with steep cliffs rising from the sun-kissed sea. The result is a potent cocktail of ingredients that serves as the foundation for the elixir called Dalmatian wine.
The most important areas in this region include the Pelješac Peninsula (also known as the “wine empire”), where Dingač and Postup boast Grand Cru positions. There is also the island of Hvar, where Sveta Nedjelja and Ivan Dolac have the most famous Grand Cru vineyards, as well as the islands of Brač, Korčula, Lastovo, Mljet, Šolta, and Vis, along with the areas of Kaštela and Trogir, Split, Omiš, Makarska, and Konavle near Dubrovnik. This subregion is home to many indigenous grape varieties that are important not only for Dalmatia but also for Croatia as a whole, and even for the rest of the world. The fact that this region is the home of Zinfandel (or Tribidrag, Crljenak Kaštelanski in Croatian) has attracted the attention of many scientists and wine enthusiasts to Dalmatia (especially Central and Southern Dalmatia), who now come to study this cradle of wine.
Vineyards in this area have existed for thousands of years, and the culture of winemaking is in the blood of every Dalmatian. Exceptionally powerful and robust wines are characteristic of this region, with the most famous representative being Plavac Mali. As already mentioned, Plavac Mali is also the most important black grape variety in Croatia and grows only in Central and Southern Dalmatia. Other important black grape varieties include Dobričić from the island of Šolta and Babić from the areas of Rogoznica, Primošten, and Šibenik. Kaštela is also home to many indigenous varieties such as Ninčuša, Babica, Ljutun, and Glavinuš, as well as the white variety called Vlaška, but these wines are still not produced in large quantities and are not as well known to the public.
The most important white grape variety is called Pošip and comes from the island of Korčula. These wines are full-bodied and often have a high alcohol content, responding very well to the aging process. Other important white wine varieties include Malvazija Dubrovačka, grown in Konavle near Dubrovnik, Rukatac (also known as Maraština in Northern Dalmatia), Vugava from the island of Vis, Bogdanuša and Prč from Hvar, which locals swear have aphrodisiac properties, and Grk from the island of Korčula. Grk and Pošip are usually the most expensive white wines on the Croatian market, and Central and Southern Dalmatia also produce Prošek, Dalmatian sweet wine most commonly used in cooking or as an aperitif. And although Plavac Mali and Pošip (and probably all other varieties mentioned here) are already very popular, their time is yet to come as global fame is inevitable for these wines.
