The first four wines in the Fabula cuvee are dry reds, while the fifth, a Crljenak (Zinfandel), serves as a special finale. Its sweetness accentuates the wine's softness. This particular Crljenak contains a full 40 grams of residual sugar and is still in the tank, despite hailing from the 2021 vintage.
High sugar content, yet balanced
It is primarily used to enhance other blends, though Tomislav occasionally serves it on its own to friends. It is surprising how the natural sugar doesn't feel overpowering in a semi-sweet wine that borders on sweet. In a blind tasting, few would guess it contains more than 15 grams per liter.
The Kolaž (collage) wine features the same five grape varieties, though all are vinified dry. It comes in a 1.5-liter magnum bottle with a standard back label and five front labels attached by a rubber band. One can choose the label they prefer or cut them out and affix them to the bottle as desired.
The first sparkling wine made from Škrlet
The visit to the winery began and ended with Fraktal sparkling wine, the first of its kind made from the Škrlet variety. Produced using the traditional method of secondary fermentation in the bottle, it offers a refreshing quality and pleasant sweetness, cleanses the palate beautifully, and leaves a lasting impression.
There were at least five pure Škrlets, including one from vines propagated by experts at Geisenheim University in Germany—a leading research and educational center for viticulture and oenology. In the cellar, we also tasted a unique blend of Škrlet and Graševina.
Crljenak with 16% alcohol
Tomislav affectionately calls the blend of Škrlet, Moslavina’s most widespread variety, and Graševina, most widespread in Croatia. As for the wines in tanks and barrels, the Frankovka 2025, already beautifully rounded, was particularly appealing. The Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 is also excellent. Its fruity, powerful flavor lingers on the palate long after the sip.
That Cabernet Sauvignon will end up in a red blend alongside Merlot and Syrah. Last year’s Crljenak, meanwhile, reached 16% alcohol yet remained a wonderfully lively wine. It likely won’t be bottled on its own, but rather blended with other red varieties should they need a boost.
They export 80% of their wine to the USA
The Voštinić Klasnić winery is located in Graberje Ivanićko. In the Moslavina region, they cultivate 4.5 hectares of their own vineyards and another 4.5 hectares through partnerships, in addition to three leased hectares in Nadin, Dalmatia. It is from Nadin, specifically from rocky, stony terrain, that they source their Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Tomislav represents the fourth generation of his family to work in winemaking.
They have just one remaining loan installment from the construction and fit-out of their current winery, so they have plenty of new plans, including two new cellars. Last year, they exported as much as 80 percent of their production to the US, and Tomislav predicts that Americans will buy even more this year.
Bottles ranging from 10 euros to...
Something for everyone is the easiest way to describe the wine prices. Wines from the entry-level line, most of which appear in the header photo, cost between 10 and 18.75 euros. The Fraktal sparkling is 21.25 euros, while the macerated Škrlet Natur and Fabula Limited Edition (62.50 euros) stand out for their higher price points, as does Kolaž, with a 1.5-liter magnum bottle priced at 75 euros.
