How to say it: gurk
Why it’s important: At the moment, Grk might be coastal Croatia’s most desirable wine grape. In wine-making terms, this white grape resists disease well and produces fruit with high sugar content as well as excellent acidity. Wines from Grk are rich, flavorful and refreshing—they’re in high demand. But until recently the number of plantings of this variety were limited. Why?
It’s all due to a flower malfunction. Most grape flowers are effectively self-pollinating (with both male and female reproductive organs). In Grk, though, the pollen is sterile—only the female organ functions. Because of this, Grk needs to be planted with another variety that flowers around the same time (such as Plavac Mali or Pošip, planted in every other or every third row). This way, the pollen can be shared between varieties. However, Grk’s pollination is often uneven. This results in normal and undersize berries on each bunch, which can make the flavor of the wine inconsistent. These problems made Grk less desirable historically. Now, research is being done to improve its pollination rate.
Wine styles: Grk produces high-quality dry white wines that are generally full bodied, with an appealing fruit/mineral balance and a characteristic bitter finish. The occasional oaked or macerated (amber) Grk can be found, although most is made in stainless steel.
How to drink it: In Dalmatia, Grk is served alongside fresh oysters, mussels in white wine or gregada (fish stew).
Little-known fact: The variety’s homeland is the sandy, sea-level vineyards of Lumbarda, on the island of Korčula. Due to demand, Grk is now planted on the Pelješac peninsula, on the island of Šolta, and in small amounts as far north as Zadar county, for a total of about 22 hectares.
Grk to try: See our Grk tasting for six bottles to try. Others are Hropić, Križ, Kunjas, Opus, Popić, Madirazza.