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Privacy policyCroatia is a country of very different wine regions. In Istria, you’ll come across Malvazija Istarska; further south, Dalmatia is home to varieties such as Plavac Mali and Pošip. Champagne sits alongside this local wine culture in restaurants, hotels, wine bars and coastal spots, especially in the larger cities and popular destinations.
If you’re travelling along the Croatian coast, Champagne can be an easy addition to a seafood lunch, sunset drink or dinner overlooking the Adriatic. But Croatia is worth exploring through its own wines too – especially if you’re already interested in what grows in the places you visit.
Istria is a natural starting point for white wine lovers. Malvazija Istarska is one of the region’s signature varieties and is widely associated with the Istrian peninsula. The region also combines vineyards with another major local product: olive oil.
Further south, Dalmatia takes you into a very different wine landscape. Plavac Mali is one of its best-known indigenous red varieties, particularly associated with the steep vineyards of the Pelješac peninsula and wines such as Dingač and Postup.
Croatia also has a sparkling wine scene worth paying attention to. Plešivica, near Zagreb, is particularly known for sparkling wines, making it an interesting stop if you want something local that fits naturally into a Champagne-focused trip.
So if you’re visiting Croatia for Champagne, leave some room for the local stuff too. A bottle of Champagne at the coast and a glass of Malvazija in Istria, or Plavac Mali in Dalmatia, tell two very different stories about the country.
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Grad Zagreb, Croatia
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Croatia has several indigenous grape varieties rather than one single national style. Malvazija Istarska is strongly associated with Istria, while Plavac Mali and Pošip are important Dalmatian varieties.
Start with Malvazija Istarska. It is one of the varieties most closely connected with Istrian wine and is a natural choice if you’re exploring the region’s food and wine culture.
For red wine, look for Plavac Mali, particularly wines from the Pelješac peninsula such as Dingač or Postup. For white wine, Pošip is one of the Dalmatian varieties worth seeking out.
Yes. Plešivica, in the Zagreb area, is one of Croatia’s regions known for sparkling wine. If you enjoy Champagne, it’s a useful name to remember when exploring Croatian wine.
That depends on where you are. In Istria, try Malvazija Istarska. In Dalmatia, look for Plavac Mali or Pošip. And if sparkling wine is what you’re after, explore wines from Plešivica. These give you a much better taste of where you actually are than simply ordering an international grape variety.
Absolutely. They’re obviously very different styles, but that’s precisely the point. Croatia has local grapes and wine regions that you won’t encounter in quite the same way elsewhere. If Champagne is your starting point, use the trip to try something that belongs to Croatia too.
