Bastijana Included in Innovative Roots of Zinfandel Tour from USA to Dalmatia

One of the great attractions of Croatian wine to an international audience is that this is the home of original Zinfandel. Croatia may have some obscure and unpronounceable indigenous grape varieties (some 130 or so), but in 2001, the University of Davis provided the DNA proof that the popular American variety was actually a 100% match of one of those Croatian tongue-twisters, Crljenak Kastelanski.

Dalmatia's most popular red, Plavac Mali, is related to the noble grape, and so it came to pass last year that some representatives of the influential Zinfandel Advocates and Producers association visited Jelsa on a fact-finding tour ahead of a planned organised trip to the source of original Zin.

The tour, which is scheduled for 2017, is now available for booking through Food and Wine Trails, and includes Bastijana as one of the participating Croatian wineries.

We are looking forward to the visit. For more information, click here.

Tomic Caplar Included in Suhi u Casi Wine Buying Guide

The Tomic Caplar continues to attract positive reviews from wine experts.

The popular Bastijana red, a combination of Plavac Mali and Cabernet Sauvignon, was included in the Suhi U Casi summer wine buying guide by leading Croatian wine writer Zeljko Suhadolnik. Here is what he had to say:

♣♣♣ (♣) (XL) CAPLAR 2012 barrique – TOMIĆ    

HVAR ISLAND

■ VINEYARD: slope • sort: Cabernet Sauvignon & Plavac Mali

■ ALCOHOL: superior with controlled origin • dry • 14,0%

■ BOTTLED in: 0,75 ℓ • bottle: normal • model, type: bordeaux • CAP: cork – serious

■ DESIGN: elegant • label: attractive – original – recognisable from distance – two sections – clear, readable: good.

WINE is complex, spruced up, warm, with plenty of liveliness. Mild tertiary bouquet, appears to be in prime that can last. Looks lively, ruby-granite, transparent. Discrete on the nose, points to skin, burning and smoke/mild, chocolate, coffee, spices/with measure and well blended. Rounded in the mouth, polished tannins, salty. Very good in body&structure, salty and quite long warming ending. Retronasal: almond.

■ SERVING: ⇗    • uncap bottle several hours before serving - decant •large bordeaux glass • 18° C

For more information on the wines included in the Summer guide, click here.