Croatian Wines Shine in the U.S.: Plavac Mali Earns an Outstanding 97 Points from Wine Enthusiast

Croatian wines are continuing to strengthen their international reputation, with 14 Croatian wine labels receiving scores of 90 points or higher in Wine Enthusiast’s Buying Guide, including four wines ranked in the magazine’s prestigious “Superb” category. The standout result went to Terra Madre Premium Plavac Mali from the Komarna appellation, which earned an impressive 97 points, the highest score among the Croatian wines featured in the October issue.

The recognition marks another significant achievement for Croatia’s wine industry and highlights the growing international appreciation for indigenous grape varieties such as Plavac Mali, Pošip and Babić. Among the particularly successful varieties was Pošip, one of Dalmatia’s best-known indigenous white grapes.

Black Island Winery’s Merga Victa On Lees received 94 points, Dalmatian Dog Pošip earned 92 points, while Hvar Hills received 91 points. Croatian white blends also performed strongly. Meneghetti White received 94 points, while Stina Cuvee White, a blend of Pošip, Vugava and Chardonnay, earned 92 points. The results underline the diversity of Croatia’s wine regions and demonstrate that Croatian producers are increasingly able to compete at a high level on the international market.

Plavac Mali takes center stage with 97 points

The most impressive result came from Plavac Mali, Croatia’s flagship indigenous red grape and one of the varieties most closely associated with Dalmatia. Terra Madre Premium Plavac Mali from the Komarna appellation received 97 points, placing it firmly in Wine Enthusiast’s Superb category. Hvar Hills Pharos Maximus was another highly rated Plavac Mali, receiving 94 points. The strong scores are especially significant for Plavac Mali, a grape variety deeply connected with Croatia’s southern coastal wine regions and increasingly recognized outside the country.

Croatian producers also demonstrated their strength with red blends. Stina Cuvee Red from Brač, based on 70 percent Plavac Mali, earned 93 points, while the Bordeaux-style Meneghetti Red from Istria also received 93 points. Another indigenous Dalmatian grape, Babić, earned international recognition through Testament Winery’s Dalmatian Dog Babić, which received an Excellent rating of 92 points. Stina Vino achieved particularly consistent results across both red and white wines, with its Red Cuvee earning 93 points and its White Cuvee receiving 92 points.

A strong showing for Croatian wine

The latest Wine Enthusiast ratings provide another indication of the growing quality and visibility of Croatian wines on the international stage. With wines from Dalmatia, Brač, Hvar, Komarna and Istria among the highly rated labels, the results also showcase the geographic and stylistic diversity of Croatian winemaking. For Croatia, whose wine tradition stretches back centuries, international recognition of indigenous varieties is particularly important. Grapes such as Plavac Mali, Pošip and Babić offer wine lovers something distinctly Croatian — wines shaped by local climate, soil and generations of winemaking tradition. A 97-point score for a Croatian Plavac Mali, alongside numerous other wines surpassing the 90-point mark, sends a clear message: Croatian wines are no longer simply a discovery for travelers visiting the Adriatic coast. They are increasingly earning a place among highly rated wines on the international market.

Foto: PROMO

  

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