- March 21, 2024
Kaštela's Crljenak is an old, high-quality Croatian grape variety that captivates the local and foreign wine-growing public with an interesting story about its origin.
This variety was transferred under the name Zinfandel in the early twenties of the 19th century from the Imperial Nursery in Vienna to America, specifically to the Long Island area. Thirty years later, this variety was transferred to California, officially becoming America's most widespread variety. The popularity of Zinfandel in America has not decreased until today when it accounts for almost 23% of the total vine cultivation. Zinfandel wine is robust and intense in color.
In 1991, Zinfandel lovers founded the Association of Zinfandel Advocates and Producers (ZAP) in America to promote the variety and the wine. Because of Zinfandel's place in American culture, they wanted to protect this variety as an original American wine. However, this proposal was rejected with the explanation that since the time of Columbus, there had not been a single grape variety in the Americas from which wine could be obtained.
After this cognition, detailed research on the origin of this variety of wine began, leading scientists first to Italy, more precisely to the south of the country, where this variety is known as Primitivo. Genetic research has proven that Zinfandel and Primitivo belong to the same variety, however, Primitivo has been grown in Italy for a much shorter time than Zinfandel in America. Further research led the scientists to Croatia, more precisely to central Dalmatia. Scientists traveled around Dalmatia, taking different samples of vines, and found Zinfandel's genetic relatives - the Dobričić variety and the Plavac Mali variety. In the end, through genetic comparison, they concluded that Kaštelanski Crljenak is genetically identical to Zinfandel. Crljenak was found in the vineyard of Ivica Radunić in Kaštel Novi, proving that the natural homeland of Zinfandel is Dalmatia - more precisely, Kaštela.
Given that Crljenak is a sensitive grape variety, scientists believe that Kaštela winegrowers failed to save this variety from heat and disease at the end of the 80s of the 18th century. For this reason, Crljenak cultivation died out in Croatia, while it continued to develop excellently in America.
Today, Kaštela Crljenak is a high-quality and well-known grape variety that Kaštela winemakers have proudly continued to cultivate. Crljenak is one of the most prominent cultural symbols in Kaštela. Apart from Hotel Štacija, you can also taste Kaštelanski Crljenak in charming family wineries in Kaštela.
