It happens all the time: Visitors to Croatia try the wine, then return home secure in the idea that the world is a global marketplace. But Croatian wine is not widely available out in the world. Even wine shops in major cities tend to carry only a few bottles. This article provides sources for where to buy Croatian wine in the rest of the world.
Most Croatian wineries are small and can not produce enough wine for export. This means most of the wine is sold in Croatia, and smaller wineries sell out by the end of each year. But as wineries grow and word gets out about Croatian wine, more and more of it is slowly becoming available. This is great news for travelers, Croatia’s far-flung diaspora, sommeliers in search of new varieties to try, and anyone living in Croatia who wants to send a gift outside the country.
Normally we would stress the importance of supporting your local wine shop, but in this case, ordering online saves hassle and gets you the widest selection of Croatian wines. The sources below are listed by the country or region the wine will be shipped to.
If you live in Croatia, see this article about buying wine in-country.
Australia
Croatian Vintage
croatianvintage.com.au
Number of wines: 20+, and spirits
Ships to: all of Australia
Dalmatino Vino
dalmatinovino.com.au
Number of wines: 18
Ships to: all of Australia
Natko Kuvačić began importing Croatian wine 15 years ago, when he couldn’t find what he wanted for the Melbourne restaurant he ran with his brother. Now he supplies Croatian wine (from Dalmatia and beyond) to restaurants and ships to consumers through his website.
Canada
Croatia Unpacked
croatiaunpacked.com
Number of wines: 58
Ships to: Ontario
Saša Muradori emigrated to Canada from Korčula as a youth; Tanya Schmitt is a serial entrepreneur with a love of wine. As business partners, they have made Croatian wine available in Ontario. And there’s even better news for Canadians: the government recently removed restrictions on shipping over provincial lines. The result, says Muradori, is that “consumers are free to shop across Canada now.” The company plans to expand first to Quebec.
European Union
If you are in the European Union, you have additional options for ordering Croatian wine. Croatia is a member of the EU (and is adopting the euro in January 2023). Many of the larger Croatian wineries, or those with web shops, already ship to EU countries—just call or send the winery a note to inquire. Or browse the online options here.
CroatianWine.eu
croatianwine.eu
Number of wines: more than 200
Ships to: EU countries, Switzerland, Norway
This is the international sister-company of the Croatian wine supplier vino.hr.
Croatian Wine Online
croatianwine.online
Number of wines: about 60 wines and wine bundles
Ships to: Netherlands plus 9 EU countries
The Taste of Croatia
thetasteofcroatia.com
Number of wines: 75
Ships to: Netherlands, EU in general
Owner Ivona Šinković “grew up in a house surrounded by vineyards.” Wine has always been part of her life, and she used her spare time during the COVID pandemic to add to her wine certifications. She took over The Taste of Croatia from its previous owner in summer of 2022 and plans to continue with a focus on indigenous Croatian grape varieties. Her goal? “To make Croatian wines known in the Benelux region.”
Wine & More
thewineandmore.com
Number of wines: 642 Croatian wines and bundles
Ships to: EU countries, Switzerland, Norway (see other countries below)
A great source for wine delivery within Croatia, but “from the beginning Wine & More was all about delivering Croatian wines to the world,” says Nenad Trifunović, director of business development. With a large selection and excellent customer support, they are a leading source for Croatian wine in the EU.
Singapore
The Adriatic Pantry
adriaticpantry.com
Number of wines: 65, plus gourmet products
Ships to: Singapore
The Adriatic Pantry began with a wedding. When owners Belle Shafer and Zoran Svetličić got married in Dubrovnik seven years ago, they and their guests were thrilled with the bounty of well-made Croatian foods and wines. Their friends wanted to know where to get these products. So, Shafer said, “Right after the wedding I incorporated a company.” Since then, they have added wine to their offer, sourced through word of mouth. Like their story, their selection is personal: “We like small family farms, small vineyards . . . that people can’t find,” said Shafer.
United Kingdom
Croatian Fine Wines
croatianfinewines.com
Number of wines: 68
Ships to: UK
A two-person company inspired by a visit to Croatia, Croatian Fine Wines maintains a group of best-selling core brands while offering variety in the smaller wineries it sources. How are they managing, post-Brexit? Holly Robinson, who directs online sales, says they already had experience importing (non-EU) Bosnian wines, which prepared them for the increased paperwork and delays. Robinson remains cheerful about the process: “There’s a bit more stress involved, but not enough to put us off doing it!”
Wine & More
thewineandmore.com
Number of wines: 642 Croatian wines and bundles
Ships to: UK
For shipments to the UK, all post-Brexit logistics have been ironed out and taxes are included in the price of the wine.
United States
Croatian Premium Wine
croatianpremiumwine.com
Number of wines: 70+
Ships to: most US states
Croatian Premium Wine began with a focus on the wines of the Komarna region of Dalmatia, but has since expanded to carry wines from all over Croatia. More wines are being added even now, says co-founder Mirena Bagur, including those from Bibich (northern Dalmatia) and Clai (Istria). She adds, “We did a tour to Slavonia in June and we will be adding several more wineries from the region. The goal is to present Croatian wine at its full spectrum.”
Wine & More
thewineandmore.com
Number of wines: 60 Croatian wines and bundles
Ships to: most US states
[Title photo: Staff/CCM]