Croatian wines are continuing to strengthen their international reputation, with 14 Croatian wine labels receiving scores of 90 points or higher in Wine Enthusiast’s Buying Guide, including four wines ranked in the magazine’s prestigious “Superb” category. The standout result went to Terra Madre Premium Plavac Mali from the Komarna appellation, which earned an impressive 97 points, the highest score among the Croatian wines featured in the October issue. The most impressive result came from Plavac Mali, Croatia’s flagship indigenous red grape and one of the varieties most closely associated with Dalmatia. Terra Madre Premium Plavac Mali from the Komarna appellation received 97 points, placing it firmly in Wine Enthusiast’s Superb category. Hvar Hills Pharos Maximus was another highly rated Plavac Mali, receiving 94 points. The strong scores are especially significant for Plavac Mali, a grape variety deeply connected with Croatia’s southern coastal wine regions and increasingly recognized outside the country. The latest Wine Enthusiast ratings provide another indication of the growing quality and visibility of Croatian wines on the international stage. With wines from Dalmatia, Brač, Hvar, Komarna and Istria among the highly rated labels, the results also showcase the geographic and stylistic diversity of Croatian winemaking. For Croatia, whose wine tradition stretches back centuries, international recognition of indigenous varieties is particularly important. Grapes such as Plavac Mali, Pošip and Babić offer wine lovers something distinctly Croatian — wines shaped by local climate, soil and generations of winemaking tradition. A 97-point score for a Croatian Plavac Mali, alongside numerous other wines surpassing the 90-point mark, sends a clear message: Croatian wines are no longer simply a discovery for travelers visiting the Adriatic coast. They are increasingly earning a place among highly rated wines on the international market. Source: Croatians online