Croatia is a major wine producing area, with vineyards in all corners of the country. Recent decades have seen an increased emphasis on boutique wineries and artisan production, raising the level of local wines and making it all the more important that you give them a try.

Dalmatia

Arguably ruling the roost are the punchy dry reds from Dalmatia, most of which come from the autochthonous Plavac Mali vine. The best of these come from the steep, dry, south-facing slopes of the Pelješac peninsula and the island of Hvar, where a combination of sunshine, stony soil and salty sea breezes produce uniquely flavoursome grapes. The Pelješac villages of Dingač and Postup traditionally produce the finest wines (and anything carrying these appellations is worth tasting), although decent Plavac Mali reds come from all over southern Dalmatia.

Quality Dalmatian dry whites include Bogdanuša from Hvar, Posip from Korčula, and the rare Grk, from southeastern Korčula, which is thought to have been planted by the ancient Greeks.

Istria