More than 95 percent of the offering at the newly opened Gligora shop in Zagreb consists of products from family farms and small producers of olive oils, jams, butters, yoghurts and wines. This delicatessen oasis at Jurišićeva 30, spread over some 50 square metres, brings the flavours of the island of Pag to the capital. It is the thirteenth shop of the Gligora dairy in Croatia, and owner Šime Gligora admits that the number many consider unlucky does not frighten him. On the contrary, he considers it lucky.
At the opening it was not a ribbon that was cut, but a wheel of cheese. The Pag a cappella group Sol brought hedonism, tradition and authenticity through song. The Zagreb Cheese & Deli, like the other Gligora shops, offers products you will not find in supermarkets. They pair premium cheeses with premium wines, as they demonstrated at the shop opening. And, to soften the unlucky number 13, they matched seven lucky cheeses with seven wines from partner wineries Galić and Ego.
1.
Gligora Cow’s-Milk Ricotta & Galić Rosé
(Pinot Noir & Cabernet Sauvignon)
The delicate, fresh ricotta was elegantly accompanied by Galić Rosé of Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine’s light red-berry fruit rounded out the milky richness of the ricotta.
2.
Gligora Kozlar Goat’s Cheese & Galić Sauvignon Blanc
A meeting of freshness and pronounced aromatics came from Gligora’s Kozlar goat’s cheese and Galić Sauvignon Blanc, with its crisp aromas of asparagus and white blossom.
3.
Gligora Žigljen & Ego Pošip
Full-bodied and Mediterranean in character, Ego Pošip (a white variety native to the Dalmatian coast and islands) proved it can pair with a whole palette of cheeses. It shone especially alongside Žigljen cheese, whose creaminess underscored the wine’s minerality.
4.
Gligora Kolan Smoked Cow’s Cheese & Galić Bijelo 9
Galić Bijelo 9, a blend of Chardonnay and Sauvignon aged in oak, calls for a cheese of serious character – exactly what Smoked Kolan, a smoked cow’s-milk cheese, delivers. The natural smoke aroma pairs perfectly with the wine’s warm, rounded notes, while its freshness and acidity neatly cut the fat and highlight the fullness of flavour.
5.
Gligora Young Pag Cheese & Galić Code Black
The bubbles of the juicy, characterful sparkling Galić Code Black, made in the traditional method from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, beautifully complement the young Pag cheese with its gentle aroma and freshness.
6.
Gligora Pag Cheese Aged Six Months & Ego Tribidrag
The tannins of Ego Tribidrag (the Dalmatian ancestor of Zinfandel, also known as Crljenak) gently cleanse the fat of the cheese, while the aromatics of both wine and cheese stand out equally.
7.
Extra-Aged Gligora Pag Cheese & Le Clos 9 from 2017
The pinnacle of the tasting was the extra-aged Pag cheese, matured for at least 12 months, alongside Le Clos 9 from the 2017 vintage. This layered wine of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, with pronounced nutty and earthy notes, was a splendid match for the cheese’s intense aromas and flavours.
04 October 2025
