Ancient ways of wine#Join us for the ride
Drive along the Peljesac peninsula on wine roads
Peljesac is a peninsula in southern Croatia, located in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County. It stretches for about 70 kilometers from north to south, and its width varies from 2.5 to 10 kilometers.
The highest point on the peninsula is Mount St. Ilija, which rises to a height of 961 meters. From the summit, you can enjoy stunning views of the Adriatic Sea and the surrounding islands.The Peljesac Peninsula is famous for its vineyards, which produce some of the best red wines in Croatia. The most well-known grape variety grown in the region is Plavac Mali, which is used to make the highly-regarded Dingac and Postup wines.
The town of Ston, located on the northern end of the peninsula, is known for its 5-kilometer long defensive wall, which is the second longest wall in the world after the Great Wall of China. The wall was built in the 14th and 15th centuries to protect the town’s salt pans.
The waters surrounding Peljesac are rich in fish and seafood, and the peninsula is a popular destination for fishing and diving enthusiasts.
In addition to its natural beauty and cultural attractions, the Peljesac Peninsula is also a great place for outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, and kayaking.The peninsula has a mild Mediterranean climate, with hot summers and mild winters. The average temperature in the summer months is around 25°C, while in the winter it is around 10°C.The Peljesac Peninsula is easily accessible from Dubrovnik, which is located about 70 kilometers to the south. There is also a ferry connection to the nearby island of Korcula, which is just a short distance from the peninsula’s southern tip.The Peljesac Peninsula has a long history, dating back to the Illyrian and Greek times. The Romans also left their mark on the region, and there are several well-preserved archaeological sites to explore.The Peljesac Peninsula is a popular destination for tourists, both from Croatia and abroad, who come to enjoy its natural beauty, cultural heritage, and delicious food and wine.
Zinfandel is a red wine grape variety that is grown extensively in California, USA. It is known for producing rich, full-bodied wines with high alcohol content and flavors of dark fruit and spice.
While Zinfandel is primarily associated with California, its origins can be traced back to the Dalmatian coast of Croatia, where it is known as “Crljenak Kaštelanski” or “Tribidrag”.In the early 19th century, Croatian immigrants brought the Tribidrag grape to the United States, where it was eventually renamed as Zinfandel.In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the Croatian origins of Zinfandel, and some winemakers in California have started to produce wines using the original Tribidrag name.Peljesac, a peninsula in southern Croatia, is known for its production of red wines made from the Plavac Mali grape variety, which is a relative of Zinfandel/Tribidrag.Peljesac is home to several wineries that produce high-quality Plavac Mali wines, including the famous Dingac and Postup wines.Some winemakers in California have started to experiment with using Plavac Mali grapes to produce wines that are similar in style to Zinfandel.While Zinfandel and Plavac Mali are not identical, they share many similarities in terms of their rich, full-bodied character and flavors of dark fruit and spice.The connection between Zinfandel and Peljesac is a testament to the global nature of the wine industry and the ways in which different grape varieties and winemaking techniques can be shared and adapted across borders and cultures.Today, Zinfandel remains one of the most popular and widely-produced wines in the United States, while the Plavac Mali wines of Peljesac continue to attract wine enthusiasts from around the world.
Peljesac is known for its red wines made from the Plavac Mali grape variety. This grape is a relative of Zinfandel/Tribidrag, and produces wines that are rich, full-bodied, and high in tannins.
The most famous wines produced in Peljesac are Dingac and Postup. These wines are made from grapes grown on steep slopes along the coast, where the vines are exposed to plenty of sunlight and sea breezes.
Dingac is produced in the Dingac region, located on the southern slopes of the Dingac hill. This area is protected by law and is the only region in Croatia where the name Dingac can be used for wine. Postup is produced in the Postup region, which is located on the northern slopes of the same hill.
In addition to Dingac and Postup, there are many other high-quality wines produced in Peljesac, including Plavac Mali, Ivan Dolac, and Rukatac.Wine production has a long history in Peljesac, dating back to the ancient Greeks and Romans. The region’s warm Mediterranean climate, rocky soil, and coastal location make it an ideal place for growing grapes.During the Middle Ages, wine production in Peljesac was controlled by monasteries and noble families. Many of these families built stone wine cellars, known as konobe, which can still be seen in the region today.In the 19th century, the phylloxera epidemic devastated many vineyards in Europe, but Peljesac was largely spared due to its sandy soil, which was inhospitable to the insect.
In the 20th century, wine production in Peljesac was largely controlled by cooperatives, which were established in the 1930s. However, after Croatia gained independence in the 1990s, many small family wineries emerged, and today there are over 300 wine producers in the region.Peljesac wines have won numerous awards and accolades in recent years, and are highly regarded by wine critics and enthusiasts around the world.Wine production continues to be an important part of the economy and culture of Peljesac, and visitors to the region can enjoy wine tastings, vineyard tours, and other wine-related activities.
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