📍 Dalmatia

Dalmatia is a historic region on the Mediterranean coast of Croatia, with many islands. Summers are warm and dry, and the grapes grow on stony slopes by the sea.

The region is divided into North Dalmatia, the Dalmatian Hinterland (Zagora) and Central and South Dalmatia. Each has its own wines, but they share sun and local varieties: Plavac Mali, Pošip, Maraština, Grk, Babić, Trnjak, Sušac Crni, Cetinka. Plavac Mali is the main red variety.

Dalmatia also matters to world winemaking. This is where the native variety known in California as Zinfandel and in Italy as Primitivo was identified. Croatians call it Crljenak Kaštelanski. So a famous American variety has roots on the Dalmatian coast.

Dalmatia is part of Croatian wine as its southernmost and sunniest area. Wines are often rich and strong, but fresh whites exist too.