Prigorje-Bilogora

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• Bilogora soils formed from Pliocene sands, clays, and Pleistocene loess; the foothills of Medvednica and Kalnik rest on Miocene vapnenac, sands, and clays.
• Vineyards on gentle to steep slopes, east–southwest exposition, elevation 150–400 m, on the hillsides of Medvednica, Kalnik, and Bilogora.
• Moderately kontinentalna klima; mean annual temperature 11.2 °C, growing-season mean 17.8 °C; precipitation ~830 mm, >55 % falling during the growing season.
• Sum of effective growing-season temperatures 1,250–1,450 °C, enabling the ripening of varieties of the 2nd and 3rd époque.

• The bishopric in Zagreb was founded in 1093–1095; the Golden Bull of Béla IV (1242) explicitly mentions vineyards on the southern slopes of Medvednica.
• The predominant training system is single and double Guyot; production is carried out mainly by small family cellars that sell wine directly to consumers.

• White wines: crystal clear, yellow-green hues, medium alcohol, moderate acidity, with discrete to expressive fruit, floral, and spice aromas.
• Red wines (Frankovka, Pinot crni, Cabernet sauvignon): clear, medium alcohol, moderate acidity, moderate intensity of tannin ripeness, expressive fruit aromas.

• Kontinentalna klima with high daytime and lower night-time temperatures promotes freshness, acidity, and fruit-floral aromas in white wines.
• Soils on ilovača sands and vapnenac lend Sauvignon and Rhine Riesling freshness and an intense palate without oak ageing.
• Diurnal temperature differences result in acidity levels well suited to malolactic fermentation, which contributes to the harmony of red wines.
• Geological diversity (Pliocene sands/clays, Pleistocene loess, Miocene vapnenac) yields wines that share freshness, body, and drinkability.
• The sum of effective temperatures of 1,250–1,450 °C allows the ripening of varieties of the 2nd and 3rd époque, with the micro-site influencing the bouquet of the wines.
• Kontinentalna klima preserves primary varietal aromas and the acid profile of sparkling wines from this area.

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

Sources

• eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PDO-HR-A1657
• Official trade body site — Bregovita Hrvatska