Somewhere halfway between the Equator and the North Pole lies the 45th north parallel, far enough from extreme heat and cold. Besides being an imagined circle connecting all points at that geographic latitude, this parallel has an interesting story with wine.
All wine connoisseurs are aware of the importance of favorable climatic conditions for growing grapevines. The area around this parallel can boast abundant sunshine, present for at least 16 hours a day in summer and half a day in winter. All inhabitants of the planet living exactly on this parallel, whether in Michigan or Georgia, enjoy the same daily dose of vitamin D. But where does wine come into play?
Just like people, grapevines love the sun. High levels of light and warmer temperatures favor their growth, so planting on the southern side is recommended.
To develop the full potential from the seedlings, an eight-hour exposure to sunlight daily is ideal for achieving high-quality fruit. It is precisely on the 45th north parallel that all necessary conditions for the development of some of the best wine varieties in the USA, France, Italy, and even Croatia come together.
The most important wine regions in the world, such as Oregon, the Italian Piedmont, the Rhone Valley, and Bordeaux in France, as well as Kutjevo and Novigrad in Istria, are located on this imaginary circle. The area around Kutjevo in Slavonia is known for numerous wineries that win prestigious awards at international wine competitions.
Also, Kutjevo is home to one of the oldest wine cellars in Croatia, dating back to 1232.
Grateful climatic conditions in the Kutjevo region have enabled the development of an excellent white wine variety, Graševina. Kutjevo’s Graševina, with its harmonious fruity aroma and full flavor, has even gained its festival, a true gathering of hedonists who enjoy top-notch wine, music, dance, and gastronomic offerings of Slavonia.
Although somewhat less known worldwide, Novigrad also offers a wide range of successful winemakers accessible via some of Istria’s famous wine roads. In the Novigrad area, from indigenous Croatian wine varieties, Istrian Teran, Muškat momjanski, and Muškat ruža porečki thrive.
Of course, the mere fact that a vineyard is located at the 45th parallel north is not enough for growing above-average quality grapevines. It also needs to take into account the quality of the soil, irrigation system, altitude, and certain weather conditions beyond human control.
The geographical latitude of Croatian vineyards alone indicates that Croatia is an ideal country for producing the world’s best wines.