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Wine Tasting Zadar & The Top 4 Wineries In Zadar (And What To Drink)
Do you love a glass of vino?
Croatia is packed with sights to see and experiences to be had, but if you’re a wine lover (as I am), you’re in for a serious treat. The country is full of wineries, but there are only a few in the Zadar Region. There are two wineries in Zadar which stand out far above the rest for me.
Let’s explore these three wineries and get your taste buds tingling at the great wine you can enjoy here.
MasVin Winery
While MasVin might not have the history of Kraljevski (see below), it still has an impressive story behind it, as well as some award-winning wines to try. MasVin is dedicated to producing locally grown produce, such as olive oil, figs, and wine, to restore the local area’s economy following the homeland war.
This has brought jobs to the region, as well as a huge interest in its delicious fare! The winery is part of a cooperative, ‘Olive and Wine,’ and was established in 2006.
Set in an equally scenic location, MasVin is around 45 minutes drive away from Zadar, in a pretty village called Palaca. The area has been agriculturally important for decades, and the scenery is rural, taking you far away from the tourism boom and beaches you’re used to. A trip to MasVin is ideal for an afternoon out.
In addition to olive oil and figs, you can also try and buy several types of wine.
Main Wines You Will Find
Crljenak (White)
A strongly flavored wine that goes well with meat
Cabernet Sauvignon (Red)
This is a strong-tasting red wine, which has hints of ripe berries.
Crljenak (White)
This is a mid-dry wine, which has a soft taste and is ideal with chicken.
Cuvee (Red)
This is a mixture of everything and has a varied, dry taste.
Dux Croatorum (Red)
Quite sweet for red wine, this wine has hints of sour cherries and blackberries.
Merlot 2016 (Red)
One of the award-winning wines of the area, with a velvety plum taste
Shiraz – Syrah (Red)
This is a violet-colored wine that goes really well with barbecued meats.
Marastina Chardonnay (White)
Ideal to pair with fish, lamb, or chicken; this is a dry white wine.
Yellow Muscat (White)
A mid-sweet white wine with berry and floral hints
Rose (Rose)
The classic pink wine with a very fresh taste
Surely there’s plenty in there for you to try your taste buds on!
There are several group tours on offer (like this one we wholeheartedly recommend), but you do need to book 24-48 hours beforehand to be sure of a place. The tour will take you around the vineyards and allow you to taste wines and the other products created on the grounds, such as fig products and olive oil.
Of course, you can also buy any products or wines you like the taste of, with a small discount for purchasing on the day.
Degarra Winery
A relative newcomer to the Zadar winery world, Degarra Winery opened its doors in 2012 and is a former army barracks site. With the motto ‘New and Original,’ you can expect some rather mouth-watering wines are coming your way, but the scenery is pretty impressive too!
The Degarra Winery grapes are grown on what is known as the Ravni Kotari set amongst 1.8 hectares of rolling fields and trees.
The winery was initially founded by the Pestic and Sulentic families, opening one large winery, which nowadays serves various delicious red, pink, and white choices.
Degarra Winery is a great day out, and the wine tasting room is a short uber ride from the center of Zadar. You can taste delicacies such as Cabernet, Merlot, Marastina, Plavin, and Syrah.
The winery’s most famous and prized choice is the Bomary. This is a combination of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Merlot. If you’re a lover of sparkling wine, Degarra Winery is also where the first Zadar-produced fizz came from!
Aside from wine tasting, you can also taste some delicious locally produced fare, such as cheeses, olive oil, and fish, as the Degarra Winery has teamed up with local families to showcase the area’s most delicious treats.
Main Wines You Will Find
- Degarra Bonterra – A combination of Cabernet, Merlot, and Syrah
- Degarra Bomary – A special blend of Merlot, Plavin, Syrah, and Marastina
- Degarra Posip – Derived from the Posip grape
- Degarra Rose – A combination of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon
Fiolić Winery Tasting Room
Croatia is packed with sights to see and experiences to be had, but if you’re a wine lover (as I am), you’re in for a serious treat. Croatia is full of wineries, but there are only a few in the Zadar Region to see – and one is just a few minutes drive from the city center – and it caters to small intimate groups only!
Hello there, social distance-friendly activity!
The Fiolić Winery is ideal for spending an hour or two on a hot summer’s day. The team from Fiolić Winery has set up a wine tasting room that can accommodate up to 12 people, and they offer three types of experiences for you to have.
In their comfortable tasting room, you can get to know their collection of both fresh and aged wines. While you are there, you can also taste fig, and cherry liqueurs served – both served with local delicacies.
Of course, the wine is excellent, but make sure that you try the liqueurs while you are there. There are two, one from sour cherry maraška and one from figs. The liqueurs have been awarded prizes and have received recognition on both local and international levels.
Fun fact: The liqueurs are made using traditional handmade methods, and during production, desalinated seawater is used, giving the liqueurs their unique taste!
Check out what they offer here.
Kraljevski Winery
Around 12km away from Zadar, in the beautiful Northern Dalmatia region, you will find the Kraljevski Winery. The plus point of this particular winery isn’t just how beautiful the scenery is or how delicious the wine is; it’s its location. At just over 10 minutes drive away from Zadar, you can easily take an afternoon out from your beach fun and enjoy some wine tasting.
The hilltop location lends to some stunning views over the Adriatic, and the whole area, towering above Petrcane and Punta Skala, will take your breath away. The history of the winery is quite interesting, too, dating right back to 1066! The vineyards were put into production in 1072, with the land belonging to the Benedictine Monastery of St Mary, located in Zadar itself.
Enough about the scenery and history though, what about the wine?
Most of the work in the winery is done by hand, which is thought to be what gives the wine such a distinct and sharp taste and years of experience passed down through the generations. Kraljevski produces a mixture of white, red, and rose.
Main Wines You Will Find
Posip (White)
A strong-bodied wine with a taste of figs, apricots, and herbs
Plavac Mali (Red)
A native Croatian wine with hints of cherries and plums
Crljenak (Red)
Another native Croatian red wine which has a softer taste, with hints of blueberries, raspberries, and plums
Rose Scuro (Rose)
A delicate rose with flavors of ripe and sour cherries and strawberries.
Muskat Zuti (White)
This is a medium-dry wine with a yellow hue and a sweet flavor.
You can learn about how these wines are produced, and of course, try them out for yourself by enjoying the wine tasting tour. The winery is open to the public Monday to Sunday, with tastings from 11 am until 4 pm. You don’t generally need to book unless you are a group of ten or more.
Within this, you will get a tour of the vineyards and a tasting session. If you prefer, you can book a private tour and tasting session too, but this will need to be pre-booked.
These Zadar wineries are sure to please, especially as an addition to exploring the city itself. Let us know what you think.