Croatia - small country for BIG wines

Viticulture - Plavac Mali

Saint Nedjelja - Hvar island

One of the best known Croatian wines, and my personal favorite is Plavac Mali (aka known as Dingac or Postup), known as the “king of the Croatian red wines”. The name refers to the small blue grapes; in Croatian plavo means blue and plavac refers to 'what is blue'; mali means small. Plavac Mali is known for producing wines that are rich in flavor and high in both alcohol and tannins. Common flavors and aromas include blackberries, dark cherries, pepper, and spices.

THE tunnel

The tunnel ride & Underwater wine cellar

Getting to Plenkovic winery is an experience itself. In order to get on the "happy" side of the island you have to drive through unpaved tunned where two cars cannot pass each other and there are no lights inside - it is pitch black! There is a traffic light regulating safe passage through obscure tunnel that has no lights. One part of the tunnel actually serves as cellar for Plenkovic's wines. Once you get on the "happy" side of the island spectacular view opens up towards Adriatic Sea on one side and steep vineyards rushing towards the 

see on the other side. Another 15 minutes ride and you reach town of Sveta Nedjelja 

Steep vineyards - Plenkovic 

(Saint Sunday). Plenkovic winery estate is situated right on the sea shore and it has an underwater wine cellar where big and bold wines age. You can't really put a price tag on chilling by the crystal clear blue Adriatic sea indulging big Plavac Mali over small bites of local sheep cheese, prosciutto, capers, olives... Look back and you will see breathtaking steep wineyards that are still being treated by hand due to its steep terrain (in the past donkey were used to reach vineyards).

Typical scenery of Sv. Nedjelja

Plenkovic Winery & Underwater cellar

Plenkovic Wine Estate

Plenkovic vinery

Plavac Mali vineyards are mostly located on the south of Croatian Adriatic coast. There are many wineries that make excellent Plavac Mali. One of the best known producers comes from island of Hvar - Plenkovic winery. Winery situated on steep, south facing slopes of the island. Grapes are picked manually, yields are low and there are absolutely no chemicals used for spraying. 

View from winery towards vineyards

View from the vinery

Small country for big wines

Although Croatia is quite a small country (population of about 4.5 million) it is a home to many world renowned wine varieties. Croatia’s viticultural heritage stretches back over 2,500 years, after the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius Probus commanded vast swathes of land from Germany down to the Danube to be turned over to vineyards. There are presently 33,000-hectares under vine in Croatia, equally split between continental and coastal regions, home to 800 wineries producing wines of controlled origin.

Accomodation
Hvar is also a great party place with many events going on during summer. I would recommend stayin in town Hvar (which is about 40 minutes away from Sveta Nedjelja) at a small boutique hotel Podstine located in a small private bay, only 15 minutes away by Hvar center. If you are into private accomodation check out this agency.

Hvar town

Hvar harbour

Old town Hvar

Hvar harbor from the fort

Hvar is know for lavender fields

(text and photos from: http://www.bluedanubewine.com/winery/zlatan_plenkovic/, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plavac_Mali, http://winesofcroatia.wordpress.com/2010/10/21/robert-parkers-wine-advocate-reviews-croatian-wines-part-i/)