The most important international wine awards have been handed out, Vinistra has been archived and although only half a year has gone, it is time to review the successes of domestic wineries and varieties. We included in this selection international successes, but also the continuity of quality of certain wineries whose work we follow regularly.
WINERY OF THE YEAR Benvenuti, Kaldir near Motovun
The Benvenuti brothers received 95 points at Decanter for each of their Teran wines form 2012 and 2013, with a platinum medal at the Decanter World Awards. The gold for Anno Domini Malvazija at the International Wine Challenge should also be counted. We are quite certain these are very strong arguments to declare Benvenuti Winery of the Year. By the way, the 2016 Malvazija may be the best young Malvazija they have ever released.
BEST NEW WINERY Fakin, Motovun
Technically speaking, Fakin is not a new winery as it has been selling bottled wines for six years. But, Marko Fakin only gained national and international importance this year. His Malvazija La Prima from 2015 won 95 points and a gold medal at Decanter World Awards, while the 2016 Fakin Malvazija is the best rated white wine at Vinistra. Fakin placed among the leading Croatian wine producers this year.
SMALL WINERY OF THE YEAR Tomac, Plešivica
Decanter listed at the end of last year the sparkling Amfora from 2010 among the most important wines in the world in 2016. Only six other champagnes and sparklings were included in that category. Besides producing the first world commercial sparkling wine from amphorae, the Tomac family set new quality and hedonism standards for the growing domestic sparkling scene with their Brut Rose.
LARGE WINERY OF THE YEAR Laguna, Poreč
On one hand, Laguna makes Terra Rosa, an ultra-cheap red wine which gather international recognition from harvest to harvest. On the other hand, its Festigia Malvazijas have definitely found their spot among the best Istrian white wines. Along with all this, Laguna is currently preparing several potentially sensational red wines of high style, due to appear on the market in a year or two.
RED VARIETY OF THE YEAR Teran
Teran has become the specific difference between Istrian and Croatian wine industry. You can make a brilliant Merlot, but it will only be one of thousands of good world Merlots. And there is no competition for a good Teran, it is absolutely unique. Besides the wine successes, Teran also left international illegality which Slovenia tried to impose on it.
WHITE VARIETY OF THE YEAR Graševina
Graševina is making a comeback. Not only because of two platinum medals at the DWWA, but also due to the constantly rising quality, through excellent Krauthaker and Mihalj wines and excellent Feravino Miraz, to the truly unique Ilok Great Harvest. Graševina is definitely becoming a variety of paramount importance for the quality peak of Croatian wine production.
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