Taste Dalmatia for €19: Wines of the Zadar Region Arrive in Zagreb

If you want to discover more about the wines of the Zadar region, make sure to include the workshop “Zadar in a Glass” in your schedule — held at Zagreb’s diWine Club, and available at the fantastic price of just €19.

This series of four wine workshops, which bring a touch of Dalmatia to Zagreb, is organized in cooperation with the Zadar County Tourist Board and the Zadar Wine Festival. The aim is to introduce Zagreb’s wine enthusiasts to the rich winemaking culture of the Zadar region and to present its most prominent wines and wineries.

The project is supported by Vinketa, Kraljevski vinogradi, Fiolić, Jokić, and Velebna, whose premium wines participants will be able to taste at the first workshop on October 29 at 6 PM.

The wine history of the Zadar region: rises, falls, and the creation of a modern wine identity

Viticulture in Dalmatia, including the Zadar area, boasts a long and turbulent history. According to some sources, by the mid-19th century Dalmatia had as many as 68,000 hectares of vineyards and an annual production exceeding 600,000 hectolitres of wine, a significant share of which was exported.

This thriving winemaking tradition came to an abrupt halt with the arrival of phylloxera – a vine pest that devastated vineyards, triggered mass emigration, and left many fields abandoned. A more significant revival of vineyards began after World War II, but the focus then shifted toward introducing foreign grape varieties and maximizing yields, often at the expense of quality.

At the turn of the 21st century – a decade after the end of the Homeland War – Zadar winemakers once again turned to wine production, this time aligned with global trends emphasizing organic cultivation, moderate yields, modern technology, and high-quality wines.

The Zadar region: an increasingly important destination for wine and gastronomy lovers

Today, the Zadar region is home to 29 wineries, and the city of Zadar itself hosts one of Dalmatia’s most important enogastronomic events – the Zadar Wine Festival. The county is also making strong progress in the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) and wine-gastronomy tourism sectors, aiming to position the region as an active and attractive destination for both domestic and international visitors.

Organic production, Ravni Kotari, and a story of success

One of the key strengths of the Zadar region is its focus on organic viticulture. The Ravni Kotari area proudly boasts the world’s highest rate of agricultural land under organic cultivation per capita.

In addition to the eco-friendly approach, the region is also dedicated to reviving indigenous grape varieties such as maraština and svrdlovina. On the other hand, international varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah also thrive here, producing outstanding results that stand shoulder to shoulder with some of the world’s finest wines.

A wine workshop for only €19

If the idea of traveling through the Zadar County by tastes, stories, and wines sounds appealing, sign up for the “Zadar in a Glass” workshop at diWine Club in Zagreb. At a symbolic price of €19, which includes the tasting of six wines, seats are expected to fill up quickly – so don’t wait too long.

Tickets are available at diWine.com.hr, and for more information and upcoming events, follow @diWine_project on Instagram.

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Text: Irena Lučić, diWine Travel&Taste

Photo credit: Nikola Zoko, diWine archive