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Grape Varietals
Plavac Mali
An native grape to Croatia that is grown almost exclusively in the region of Dalmatia. The name literally means, "little blue" in Croatian, which refers to the small, bluish grapes that the vines grow.
The wine is actually a hybrid that descends from Crljenak Kaštelanski and Dobričić and is a cousin to Vranac. The former wine is the Croatian version of what is known as Primitivo in Italy and Zinfandel in California. Plavac Mali is grown in much greater abundance than either of its parents, being that it is a much more hardy grape than Crljenjak Kaštelanski (which had nearly died out until the link to Zinfandel was discovered) and a much tastier grape than Dobričić (which is mostly used to blend with other wines).
The flavors change a great deal depending on which of the main mainland areas or islands that the grapes are grown. Overall, it tends to have deep flavors of blackberries, pepper, and other spices. The alcohol can run as high as 15%, but tends to be around 12.5% - 13% in most vintages of the wine.
Plavac Mali pairs very well with foods and takes very well to aging. It is also one of the few wines that is rarely blended due to its great all-around strengths.
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