Welcome to Korta Katarina Winery from Croatia, who will be participating at the VanWineFest 2022 to be held May 16 to May 22, 2022.
Introduction to Korta Katarina Winery
From the winery: Korta Katarina Winery is located in Orebić, Croatia, on the Dalmatian coast, about 2 1/2 hours north of Dubrovnik.
Orebić has a long and rich maritime history. Over the centuries, this relatively small city has been the home to many wealthy sea captains. After sailing the high seas, these captains constructed their mansions throughout the town. The villa and winery at Korta Katarina traces its origins back to this naval history and an extensive renovation has brought a new shine to this elegant property.
The Terroir
The wines made at Korta Katarina express the terroir of the Dalmatian coastal areas of the Dingać and Postup regions of the Peljesać Peninsula where Orebić is located and the Čara region on the island of Korčula, a 15-minute ferry ride from Orebić.
An important part of managing the Korta Katarina vineyards is maintaining the balance between viticulture and nature. Korta Katarina believes in envrionmental responsibility and is dedicated to practicing natural farming techniques to produce its wines.
Dingać and Postup
The Dingać and Postup wine regions of the Peljesać Peninsula produce wines that are rich in flavour and high in both alcohol and tannins. These regions are home to the indigenous Plavac Mali grape that Dalmatia is famous for.
The Dingać and Postup Plavac Mali wines from the Peljesać Peninsula were the first wines in Croatia to receive designations as wines within a protected geographic origin.
Čara
Korta Katarina’s Pošip is made from grapes that come from select Pošip grapes from the Čara region on the island of Korčula – the birthplace of the great explorer, Marko Polo. The best Pošip grapes come from the Čara region of Korčula.
The Wines We Will Feature at the International Festival Tasting Room
We will be pouring the following wines:
- Korta Katarina Rosé, 2017 – a blend of Plavac Mali and Zinfandel. The Plavac Mali comes from the Dingać region and the Zinfandel is the famous Croatian indigenous zinfandel grape from which all zinfandels throughout the world came from. Select grape clusters are selected by hand on the sorting table, then pressed without crushing to avoid colouring the juice. Then cold fermentation to avoid malolactic fermentation. Aging is in stainless steel tanks on lees. Total production is 4,300 bottles.
Tasting Notes – dark cherry in colour, the wines center graduates to an illuminating pale strawberry rim. On the nose, notes of freshly muddled strawberry, cherry pit, red delicious apple, ripe kiwi and a hint of garden herbs lift from the glass. Initially, the palate gives way to round notes of apple pulp, strawberry seed, early summer rhubarb and juicy yellow cherry. As the palate develops, the wine leads through to a firm line of acidity ranging in flavour from crisp, clean apple to Thai basil and thyme. - Korta Katarina Pošip, 2017 – the varietal is Pošip grapes from the Čara region on the island of Korčula. Vinification consists of cold pressing, cold maceration for up to 12 hours, cold fermentation, part of the wine matures on lees in oak and part in stainless steel. Aging is 50% in barrique barrels on lees and 50% in stainless steel. Total production is 22,000 bottles.
Tasting Notes – 2017 was one of the best years for Pošip grapes and this vintage has excellent aging potential. Straw gold colour with a thick consistency. On the nose it has a pronounced intensity and durability, with hints of pineapple, quince, apricot and peach. Also present are herbal grassy notes. It is a medium to full body wine with nice acidity and a long finish. The vintage won silver medals at the 2019 Decanter World Wine Awards and at the 2019 IWSC. - Korta Katarina Reuben’s Private Reserve, 2011 – The Reuben’s is Korta Katarina’s premier wine and made from hand selected Plavac Mali grapes from the Dingać and Postup regions of the Peljesać Peninsula and only produced in those years in which the quality of the Plavac Mali grapes being harvested are particularly spectacular. The wine is a special edition wine and production is limited to 3,500 bottles. Vinification is cold maceration, long fermentation and the wine is matured in barrels after malolactic fermentation. Aging is 36 months in new barrique barrels.
Tasting Notes – Dark blackberry in colour in the glass with a slightly ruby-colored rim. On the palate chocolate covered dark bing cherries, dried currants and stewed plums lift the aromatics of the wine with tertiary forest floor, sage and saddle leather. This wine is full-bodied, complex, bold and has exceptional structure. The earth driven pureness of this wine leads to a rich, chocolate and dried fruit center. The finish is long and structured with firm silky tannins. The vintage won a silver medal at the 2017 Decanter World Wine Awards. - Korta Katarina Plavac Mali, 2009 – Made from hand-selected Plavac Mali grapes from the Dingać and Postup regions of the Peljesać Peninsula. This vintage is made from some of the best grapes in the last decade on the Peljesać Peninsula. Vinification is a long maceration and fermentation, after malolactic fermentation and the wine is matured in barrique barrels for 15 months.
Tasting Notes – Ruby red in colour, clear and dense. On the nose, very rich and pronounced with a fruity character of dried and stewed fruits, followed by spices, cinnamon and cloves. Soft, rough tannins with great aging potential. The wine is balanced and structured. Wine Enthusiast magazine awarded it 89 points in January, 2018.