The Wine Sofa portal recently declared Pelješac as one of the ten most desirable wine destinations in Central and Southern Europe, opening the doors to the vineyard charms of southern Croatia for its readers. Wine journalist Dániel Ercsey, in his article, invited all wine lovers to visit this magical Croatian peninsula, which became more accessible since the opening of the Pelješac Bridge in 2022, with no passports required for entry into Bosnia and Herzegovina. Travel time has significantly reduced not only to Pelješac but also to Dubrovnik, making it an even more enticing destination.
Ercsey recommends visiting the historic town of Ston, especially in February when the oyster season is in full swing, while for summer adventures, he suggests heading to the village of Podobuče, boasting the best restaurant on the peninsula, where the daily menu depends on the fish caught that morning.
Pelješac is renowned for Dingač and Postup wines, originating from Plavac Mali, considered by many as the most significant Dalmatian grape variety. Wines produced from this variety are characterized by their robust and slightly bitter taste due to the high level of tannins, which Ercsey claims can even test the enamel of twenty-year-olds! Being a peninsula, seafood dominates the cuisine, and every wine lover knows that strong red wine and fish aren’t the best pairing, so locals offer Korčula’s white wine, Pošip, in such cases.
Among the recommended wineries worth visiting and enjoying their wines are Saints Hills, Grgić, Korta Katarina, and Matuško. Ranking eighth on the list, Pelješac stands among esteemed destinations like the Czech region of Modré hory, which takes first place for its red wines; Plovdiv in Bulgaria, Tikveš in North Macedonia, and others, rounding up the list of enticing wine destinations in this part of Europe. Therefore, pack your bags and embark on discovering this beautiful Croatian peninsula, where every sip tells a story of tradition, land, and sea.