September 4, 2021 - The Kaštelanski crljenak origin label raises this already esteemed variety to a new level.

Kaštelanski crljenak, celebrated in the world under the name Zinfandel or Primitivo, is becoming increasingly popular in Croatia, reports HRTurizam.

And now, 12 Kaštela winemakers can boast of the excellence of their wines from the Kaštelanski crljenak variety. Namely, the label of excellence is primarily intended to denote high-quality wines produced from this variety, and only to winemakers who have vineyards in Kaštela. If you do not produce wine in a Kaštela vineyard, then you cannot obtain this now sought-after label.

Those who have already tasted wine from Kaštelanski crljenak know it is highly esteemed, but this origin label raises it to a new level. The designation of origin is a more specific form of protection. It implies the essential or exclusive influence of special natural and human factors of a particular geographical environment and the resulting special quality and properties of products or services.

Geographical indications and designations of origin are protected as intellectual property to prevent their misuse or unauthorized use. They contribute to the higher market value of products and services corresponding to their specific characteristics and the reputation thus acquired.

The initiative came from the winemakers themselves, who were helped by the City of Kaštela, RERA, and the Zora Cluster to emphasize the quality and value that Kaštelanski crljenak has on the market. Thus, in addition to the already celebrated international wines Zinfandel and Primitivo, whose ancestral home is right in the Kaštela vineyards, Kaštelanski crljenak should get added value.

The 12 winemakers who officially carry Kaštelanski crljenak origin are: Anton Kovač and Ivan Kovač Matela in Kaštel Sućurac, Vlado Perišin and Jakov Bedalov in Kaštel Kambelovac, Anton Kovačev in Kaštel Lukšić, Dražan Krola and Ivica Kovačević in Kaštel Stari, Marin Milan, Ivica Radunić and Ante Kuzmanić in Kaštel Novi and Neven Vuina and Karlo Žanić in Kaštel Štafilić.

Kaštelanski Crljenak is an old, almost forgotten Croatian variety that has recently occupied the domestic and foreign wine-growing public. Namely, it was determined that Kaštelanski Crljenak and the American variety Zinfandel have identical genetic profiles, i.e., the same variety of wine that helped solve the mysteries of its origin.

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June 17, 2021 - As part of the Kaštela Creative Spring, a Wine and Gastro Week was held in which the label of excellence, True Kaštela Crljenak, was awarded.

The label is primarily intended for labeling high-quality wines produced from the Kaštela Crljenak variety. The label is awarded to wine producers who have production areas in the area of the town of Kaštela and who are entered in the Register of Grape and Wine Producers, reports Dalmacija Danas. 

The initiative to design the label of excellence came from Kaštela winemakers and was supported by Mayor Denis Ivanovic and the Tourist Board. In the Bedalov tasting room, an award ceremony of excellence was held for Kaštela winemakers, and eleven of them carried the label of excellence. Namely, Ante Kuzmanić, Karlo Žanić, Ivica Kovačević, Dražen Krolo, Neven Vujina, Ivica Radunić, Anton Kovačev, Vlado Perišin, Marin Milan, Jakša Bedalov and Ivan Kovač Matela are Kastela winemakers whose wines carry the label of excellence.

"Dražen Krolo, a winemaker from Kaštela, planted his vineyard in the Dalmatian hinterland. He was one of the first to plant Kaštela Crljenak in 2003, knowing that it was a variety that originated in this area.

It is a variety that has disappeared from this area for no reason; it is challenging to make wine. We struggled a lot for a couple of years until we got used to it, but we didn’t regret it. This crljenak is, indeed, a brand in the world, and every promotion of crljenak and raising it to a higher level are commendable," said Krolo.

Found 20 years ago

"The mark of excellence is, of course, the wind in the back, one step higher in branding. We are a small group in Kaštela, but we are trying to bring the Kaštela Crljenak to an international level," said Radunić, in whose vineyard the root of zinfandel was found twenty years ago.

"The city of Kaštela has been supporting Crljenak for many years. It has already become our brand, and it still needs to be branded. Through the Creative Spring Days, there is a special emphasis on Kaštela Crljenak, and winemakers will definitely have the support of the City," said the Mayor of Kaštela Denis Ivanović.

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First they discovered that Zinfandel originates in Croatia, then they took the original Croatian Zin to California. The Croatian wine story continues...