Located in the north of the country, the Croatian Uplands are undoubtedly the coolest of Croatia’s four key wine regions. The area has earned a reputation for producing crisp white wines from international and regionally important varieties like Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc. Important sub zones include Medimurje, Zagorje, Moslavina, and Plešivica.
The diverse region of Dalmatia contains the cities of Split, Šibenik, and at its northernmost area, Zadar, as well as important adjacent islands such as Hvar and Brač. Native white grapes include the full-bodied Pošip, originally from the island of Korčula while reds such as Zinfandel, called Tribidrag or Crljenak Kaštelanski depending on the locality, also grows abundantly here. The red skinned Babić, with its firm tannins and sour cherry notes, is found in central and northern Dalmatia while Plavac Mali dominates the Pelješac Peninsula and southern islands, with its savoury, figgy profile.
Located in the far west of Croatia, Istria is a fiercely independent region known predominantly for the cultivation of Teran and the white Malvazija Istarska. Although production is centred around a few large wineries there is a healthy scene of small boutique wineries and the region has a rapidly improving reputation for making exciting wines.
