Hrvatsko primorje

Croatia · DOP · Primorska Hrvatska

Styles

Natural factors

Soils predominantly on vapnenac: typical and leached crvenica, anthropogenic karst soils, ripped soil on loess; locally fliš, Quaternary sand.
Karst relief with terraced surfaces; vineyards up to 250 m a.s.l. on shallow soils of Upper Cretaceous vapnenac or in karst poljes.
Submediteranska klima: mean annual temp. ~15.4 °C, growing-season mean ~21.1 °C; rainfall 1,200–1,500 mm/year; insolation ~2,200 hours/year.
Winds bura and jugo cause salt spray and reduce humidity; varying wind exposure drives local differences in rainfall and soil composition.

Human factors

The Vinodol Code (1288) and the Statute of Rijeka (1530) regulated the control of wine production and trade in this area.
Following phylloxera (1894), foreign varieties were introduced during vineyard replanting, while indigenous ones (Žlahtina, Gegić, Plavina…) partially disappeared.

Product characteristics

White wines (Žlahtina): greenish-yellow in colour, light, fresh, with pleasant aromas, medium alcohol, and harmonious acidity; intended for early consumption.
Red wines (Cab. Sauv., Plavina): ruby-red in colour, medium-bodied, with intense varietal aromas; suitable for malolactic fermentation and oak ageing.

Terroir / wine link

A low clay content and higher sand content in the soil yield more extracted wines with more pronounced aromas.
Ocean air and higher annual rainfall (1,200–1,500 mm) produce lighter, fresh wines with well-preserved primary aromas.
Warm autumns combined with frequent winds (low humidity) and well-drained soils enable kasna berba and the production of desertno vino.
The higher acidity of desertno vino from Primorja compared to Dalmatia is a consequence of oceanic influence and abundant rainfall.

Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.