One small town, three quality winemakers – Jelsa, the heart of Hvar wine.
One of the strengths of the Hvar wine scene is its diversity. Not only in the micro-climates which provide the scene for some truly unique wines, but also the strong personalities of its winemakers.
Nowhere is this more true than in Jelsa, the heart of Hvar wine country. Morning coffee (ok, something a little stronger) was with Ivo Dubokovic and Andro Tomic, two of Croatia’s leading wine names, and a very entertaining discussion was had by all.
Just as we were heading home, Teo Huljic motioned me over and invited me to his konoba to taste his range of 2013 wines, still in the tank.
We had a little time and I was keen to agree, for my experiences of his wines so far has been little short of excellent. He may not have the marketing of Tomic and Dubokovic, but his wines are quality indeed.
As is his konoba, a nice and compact tasting room in the centre of Jelsa, just next to his excellent and very quirky restaurant, Konoba Huljic, complete with falling lemons and uneven stone tables.
The new vintages are VERY good, and with the addition of new technology to the Huljic winery, this is a winemaker to watch. Kap Sunce (A Drop of Sunshine) 2013 is a wonderfully fruity combination of two indigenous Hvar white varieties – Bogdanuse and Prc, while the reds are divided between excellent plavac mali and a new experiment of cabernet sauvignon and merlot – I swear I smelled the vineyards of St. Emilion.
Dubokovic, Tomic, Huljic. Three very individual styles, all of great quality. Location Jelsa. The future of wine tourism on Hvar is looking very bright indeed.
