The story of Vislander takes us back to the time of the Second World War, when a British air base was stationed on the island of Vis. In times of food shortage, the ancestors of today’s owners forged an alliance with British soldiers and traded their Plavac Mali for military rations. Wine then literally meant survival, and that is what defines the philosophy of this winery today, led by Marko Vojkovic. The new winery and modern brand were launched in 2015, with the clear aim of creating wines that carry a firm imprint of island terroir.
Today it farms 15 hectares of its own vineyards spread across distinctive sandy, karst and skeletal soils, at altitudes from 20 to 120 metres. Annual production is 120,000 bottles, built on three varieties: Vugava, Plavac Mali and Kuc.
Three styles of Vugava and the character of Plavac from micro-locations
On the Dracevo polje site grow Vugava and Kuc, while Milna, Tihobrace polje, Ljubisce and Voscice are reserved for Plavac Mali. Vugava is made in three ranges: Bugava Classic, Bugava Premier and Bugava Antique, which ages in a combination of oak and acacia barrels, giving it added complexity.
With Plavac Mali, blending into a single cuvee is avoided in order to preserve the specificities of each locality, so four single-vineyard labels reach the market. The range is rounded out by atypical Vis sparklers made by the classic method in a Brut style from the Kuc variety, which naturally retains high acidity. Alongside wine production, a tasting room has been set up in Milna, welcoming guests from April to October, and the offer has been extended into wine tourism through the rental of two luxury holiday villas, with three more properties planned.
Website link: www.vislander.hr
