Viniculture in Croatia has a long tradition, primarily thanks to favorable geographical position and climate. The most famous cultivar in Dalmatia is indigenous Plavac mali. Its main characteristic is the high level of alcohol and sugar and respectable amount of tannins. The best vineyards of Plavac mali are on the islands Bra? and Hvar, and on peninsula Pelješac. Among other red dalmatian wines, the most prominent are Dinga? and Postup from the peninsula Pelješac and Babi? from Primošten, and among white wines, the most significant are Pošip and Grk from the island Kor?ula, Maraština from the island Lastovo and Kujundžuša, typical wine grape variety and the most famous wine from the region of Imotski. Of course, we mustn’t omit Prosecco, an extraordinary sweet dessert wine. Among other wines produced in Croatia, the most noted are Riezling, Malvazia, Žlahtina and Traminac, which was served at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Illyrians knew the grapevine in this region far back in the Bronze Age. However, the real development of viniculture in central Dalmatia is associated with the establishment of the first Greek colonies on the islands, and with the arrival of the Romans to this region, viniculture and winemaking were significantly upgraded. It is assumed that even the Emperor Diocletian didn’t only enjoy the wine, but was also dealing with gardening and grapevine cultivation.

After they had arrived and had settled in Dalmatia, the Croats accepted grapevine cultivation, and very soon exceeded the Romans, their teachers. With the emersion of phylloxera in the 19th century, a dangerous pest of grapevines in European vineyards, interest for the Dalmatian wines increased, which resulted in beginning of their major export to France and other countries. However, when the blight affected the grapevines in central Dalmatia, there was a mass destruction of vineyards. The most difficult period in the history of Dalmatian viniculture was even deteriorated by the so-called wine stipulation, i.e. privileged import of Italian wines. Since the 1990s, the new foundations for further development of vineyards have been generated, primarily in the family cellars, which have become the main development mover along with the wineries.

Dalmatian wines made out of grape varieties that were originated in this area have been highly rated since ancient times, because the adaptation to the soil and climate resulted in much better quality of wine obtained from the indigenous grape varieties, than from the new coming. The famous explorer Marco Polo, the Hungarian king Béla IV, Franz Joseph I of Austria, and more recently U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Pope John Paul II, all enjoyed in Dalmatian wines, as well as numerous crowned heads in many countries, where they were exported.