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About us

A union of tradition and modernity: the story of a family winery.

tradition
Mile
modernity
Denis

Wines

A true little nectar cultivated on limestone and dolomitic sand.

The strength of our wines lies in their naturalness and negligable sulphur contenct in each bottle.
  • Križ

    Križ

    A dry red wine of the Plavac Mali variety, with an antique charm and exceptional drinkability despite being high in alcohol (14-15% alc/vol). In every sip of Križ, one can sense the simplicity and softness of the tannin, atypical for red varieties that require long periods of aging. The Križ wine is Pelješac in a bottle, created by blending wines from the Križ and Postup regions. The mineral notes and rounded taste resulting from the soil composition and the vicinity of the sea place these two positions at the very top of the assortment. Serving temperature: 18-20 °C.

  • Rozi Križ

    Rozi Križ

    A dry rosé pomegranate-coloured wine, with a distinctive fruity scent and the aroma of the Plavac Mali variety owing to its natural yeasts. Serving temperature: 12 °C.

  • Križ Grk

    A dry white wine with a full taste, unique scent and orange colour specific to macerated wines that have been aged in wood. A wine that stands out from the trend of the uniform white wines of today. In short, it is an ageless wine with character. Serving temperature: 12 °C.

Vineyards

The conditions of the vineyards are extreme, with exceptionally difficult, rocky terrain at a slope of up to 45 degrees the ground deeply contoured in the shape of gutters. We have refined the terrain by hand, creating terraces with dry-stone-walls – the protectors and guardians of poor soil. The cultivation of the vineyards and crops is 100% natural, traditional and ecological.

  • 45°

    Our vineyards are extremely steep, but are therefore exceptionally suitable for the cultivation of Plavac Mali.

  • 2 hectares

    Our agricultural family farm comprises 2 hectares of vineyards with southern exposure to the Prizdrina village and the Postup region.

  • Soil

    The vineyards on the Križ hill grow on sandy soil, which is an extraordinary substrate for the cultivation of Plavac Mali, whereas the vineyard in Postup is situated on limestone, gradually descending toward the sea.

Grapes

The strength of Plavac Mali lies in its naturalness, i.e. the advantage of not using pesticides on the best terrain as they would impact the natural yeasts unfavourably. The sugar content in the grapes varies, as do other ingredients that influence the quality of the wine, depending on the sun exposure, the location of the vineyard and the quality of the soil.

  • > 1/2 kg

    The poor soil and yields of less than half a kilogram per vine make our Plavac a true little nectar. As it has always been said since ancient times: „Adversity makes Plavac wine better!“.

  • Plavac Mali

    The most widespread and economically most significant indigenous red grape variety of the coastal and island parts of central and southern Dalmatia.

  • Extremes

    Contrasting climatic conditions prevail in the hills of the Pelješac peninsula, especially on its steep southern slopes. It is here that the Plavac vine yields the best grapes.

Eco-standard

The soil and vine are treated by hand, without the use of harmful chemicals. The approach to wine production is ecological. Natural yeasts are preserved in the soil and in the grapes themselves, so that there is no need for selected yeasts, nitrogen fertilizers, enzymes, and especially for unacceptable additives and preservatives. Natural ripening and traditional cultivation is fostered, alongside contemporary scientific knowledge. The emphasis is on the terroir. This is what creates the pristine taste and aroma, recognised by the competent state and international authorities.

In 2012, our family farm was visited by Alex Podolinsky, one of the originators of the use of biodynamic principles in agriculture.

  • Biodynamics

    A special form of ecological agriculture that fosters natural processes for the cultivation of plants, which are, just like humans, under the direct influence of the moon.

  • Modernity

    We have been engaged in organic viticulture since 2008. We are the first certified ecological grape growers in the county.

  • Terroir

    The combination of several different characteristics, including the geographical location, geology and the climatic conditions of a specific location on which the grape vine is cultivated.

Cellar

Here, the wine is bubbling at full throttle!

The completely natural Plavac Mali arrives to our cellar with its preserved natural yeasts, which allows for a completely spontaneous fermentation process. We foster traditional processing, while at the same time applying modern scientific principles, with a special focus on the quality of the barrels in which our wine ferments and ripens.

Plavac loves us, but we love it even more!

  • Oak

    By leaving the wine to mature on the lees in oak barrels manufactured in Croatia, we achieve great results. The barrels are made from oak staves and are not toasted (barrique).

  • Fermentation

    Natural yeasts are well preserved on the surface of the grapes so that, despite the high alcohols, fermentation occurs spontaneously.

  • Naturalness

    The advantage of Plavac Mali is that no pesticides are used on the best terrains as they would impact the natural yeasts unfavourably.

Tasting

Our tourist offering includes a presentation of our wines and the distinctive features of our production, a tour of the rustic wine cellar and wine-tasting in the specially furnished tasting room.

  • Tasting room
  • Tasting room
  • Cellar

Slow Food

The eco-gastro Slow Food organisation considers the only form of agriculture that can offer a developmental perspective to be based on the wisdom of local communities that live in harmony with the ecosystems surrounding them. A convivium is the basic territorial unit of the Slow Food organisation charged with spreading the philosophy of the movement, i.e. the protection of traditional and sustainable agriculture, the preservation of traditional methods of agriculture and the processing of food and beverages, as well as the protection of the biodiversity of cultivated species.

Križ 2012

A sommelier Eugenio Mailler and wine historian Yann Grappe have concluded that this wine is reminiscent of ancient times when the type of intoxication that a wine caused was one of the criteria for its evaluation.

  • Convivium

    We have been a member of the Dubrovnik Slow Food Convivium from its very beginnings. It is our wish to illustrate the values of the Pelješac peninsula through our small family story, ambiance, atmosphere and wine offerings.

  • Terra Madre

    Our Križ wine was presented in 2012 at prestigious Slow Food tasting events held as part of the Terra Madre meeting in Turin.

Contact

Vinarija Križ
OPG Denis Bogoević Marušić
Prizdrina 10, 20244 Potomje
+385 91 211 6974
Vinarija Križ, OPG Denis Bogoević Marušić, Prizdrina 10, 20244 Potomje
copyright 2015. Križ Winery