Good freshness, moderate alcohol and high potential were shown by the Graševina wines of the 2025 vintage at the en primeur tasting of young wines organised by the regional association Graševina Croatica at Zagreb’s Hotel Esplanade. They differ greatly from the 2024 vintage, in which the wines were largely burdened by alcohol and poor in acidity. Most winemakers correctly grasped the point of this presentation and brought their wines straight from tank or barrel, without specially fining and dressing them up just for the event, as had been the case in previous years. Numerous guests from the business and wine communities gained a clear sense of what to expect from the wines once they reach the market. It is also gratifying that the Graševinas on show display recognisable reflections of their wine-growing districts, sites and even micro-sites. The Kutjevo wines are thus marked by pronounced aromatics and high acidity, the Baranja wines are structured and rich on the palate, and those from Erdut and Srijem fall somewhere in between.
The Jakovac winery presented one wine from a stainless-steel tank and one from an acacia barrel, both worthy of attention. The Siber winery, which has only recently devoted itself to our greatest variety, brought a Graševina of high alcohol and pronounced freshness in which power and elegance intertwine. From Kutjevo, besides the ever-reliable Kutjevo and Galić wineries, it was Škoro and Perak who showed the most, bringing wines that reach for the heights. Krauthaker was exciting too, and of four young Graševinas the one from the Vidim site was the most appealing. Baranja was very well represented by the Kolar winery with a dry, expressive Graševina of clear contours.
If this tasting offered an objective window onto the potential of the latest vintage, we can conclude that a period lies ahead in which we shall enjoy new wines made from our most significant variety.
Cover photograph: Graševina Croatica
Wine photographs: Jelena Bonkulović
