Križ Winery… scents of Adriatic. The little croatian natural wine miracle

Križ winery is located on the beautiful peninsula of Pelješac on the South Dalmatian coast. well hidden in a small valley which is accessed via a narrow road that leads to a small old stone house.

It is from there that Denis and his father Mile are taking care of two hectares of vineyards with southern exposure between the village of Prizdrina and the Postup region. The conditions of the vineyards are extreme, with exceptionally difficult, rocky terrain at a slope of up to 45 degrees. The terrain was refined by hand, creating terraces with dry-stone walls which guarantee the tightness of the ground.

The cultivation of the vineyards and crops is 100% natural, traditional, and ecological — not using pesticides, as they would impact the natural yeasts unfavourably; not by chance Križ was the first Eco-certified winery in the whole country of Croatia.

The soil and vine are treated by hand, without the use of harmful chemicals. The approach to wine production is strictly ecological. Natural yeasts are preserved in the soil and in the grapes themselves, so that there is no need for supplementary yeasts, nitrogen fertilizers, enzymes, and especially for unacceptable additives and preservatives. Natural ripening and traditional cultivation is fostered alongside biodynamic techniques, and always with an emphasis on the terroir.

The small production of Križ winery includes an excellent mali plavac and a white wine that takes its name from the vineyard from which it originates: Grk. 

A grape so rare as to be almost nonexistent, for a wine able to open up a world of unique and unrepeatable colors, scents and sensations. We experienced one of the best natural wines in the world; it cannot properly be considered a white due to the slight maceration, and it likewise cannot be considered an amber owing to its exceptional freshness and drinkability. Each bottle (rare, only 1000 produced) of Grk contains a piece of the Mediterranean and the scents of the territory from which it comes; one of the best examples of terroir we have ever encountered.
Totally natural, absolutely indigenous yeasts, spontaneous fermentation, sulphites at 8ppm (practically nonexistent even in terms of naturally occurring ones). Notes of citrus, honey, and Mediterranean herbs for huge depth and complexity. 

A small miracle.