Grapes: Plavac Mali and Pošip

When legendary Napa Valley winemaker, Croatian-born Mike Grgich came to the Napa Valley in 1958 to make wine, he noticed a remarkable resemblance between the Zinfandel and Plavac Mali of his native Croatia. GrgiĆ Vina was established in 1996  to produce the finest wines from native Dalmatian grapes and concentrate on crafting Croatia’s very best varietals: Plavac Mali and Pošip.

Plavac Mali (“little blue" in Croatian, referring to its small, bluish grapes) is grown in the
prestigious Pelješac appellation, a mountainous peninsula in the southern Dalmatian coastal wine-growing region just northwest of the historic walled city of Dubrovnik. This appellation contains many small, steep areas of vineyards perched high above the Adriatic Sea on the south-facing slopes of the peninsula. The winery is located in the tiny town of Trstenik, in the middle of the peninsula right on the Adriatic Sea, as depicted on the label.

This uniquely Croatian wine has aromas of cherry compote and candied blood orange, complimented with hints of ginger and cassis. On the palate the wine exhibits soft tannins and fresh acidity followed by ripe red berry fruit, blood orange and undertones of tamarind