Some people, including Domagoj Klasiček, the owner of the Iuris Winery from Aljmaš say that Aljmaš and Dalj are the places with most sunshine throughout the year, not Hvar. Although I’m not sure that the statistics would support their claim, another claim is supported by hard facts: wines have been made in that region, and it has been documented, since the Roman times, as we know that Roman emperor Hadrianus tried to ban vineyards in the region around 100 AD (we have no idea why!).
The history of the Iuris winery goes back to a much shorter period, as Domagoj’s father, Damir Klasiček, purchased in 1977 from the heir of a famous Slavonian family Piller the first 10 hectares of their vineyards, most of which was originally planted in 1910.
The father, Damir (a former Dean of Osijek’s Law School – which helps explain the name of the winery) has completely given the reins of the winery to Domagoj, who has made a bit of a turmoil in the region with his decision that his winery is going to be focused on the red wines, and almost 85% of their vineyards today are Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and the white varieties are Sauvignon Blanc and a bit of Graševina. Additionally, and somewhat unexpectedly, they have an ongoing cooperation with some of the vineyard owners on the island of Brač, and have been purchasing Plavac Mali grapes from them and making both varietal wine and some excellent blends in their cellars in Aljmaš.
Domagoj makes several lines of wine, dedicated to different types of audiences, all very balanced and with clear vision of what he’s trying to accomplish with each wine. His first success was Sauvignon Blanc (sometimes in Croatian also called Muškatni Silvanac, although rarely), a wine made with the grapes from over 60 year-old vineyard, that won several awards as soon as it made an appearance at different festivals.
Biciklisti is a line of fresh wines, aimed at younger customers at an affordable price. It includes Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend, rosé wine made with classic Bordeaux varieties, as well as three white blends with Graševina.
Classics line includes varietal wines of their main varieties: Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon (and a blend of Cab Sauv and Merlot). Traditional wines, aimed at educating their buyers in the basics of winemaking, most of those wines are fresh and very fruity, with excellent loyalty to the varietal characteristics.
Jenaro is the name of two Iuris Plavac Mali wines, both wonderfully varietal but milder than what we’re used to. Of course, the wines were aged in oak barrels, and the results are such a surprise that any fan of Plavac Mali should give this wine a try. Their other Plavac Mali wine is Tempera Premium Cuvée, made with Dalmatian-grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Vranac and Plavac mali, a rich and harmonious wine, that manages to remain drinkable and enjoyable.
Another line of wines made by the Iuris winery is the Saltwater series, named after the underground lake beneath Erdut, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc made in a style that resembles the New World wines more than traditional European-style wines, also aimed at younger consumers who want to taste something different.
Iuris wines proves year after year that they are a serious winery and that the winemakers understand what their customers love and need, and they will hopefully continue to make wines of different styles for various groups of their customers.
