Malvazija Kabola Unica 2019, made by Marin Markežić from Momjan, is the winner of the Amber Wines macerated white wine evaluation held on August 30, 2022 at the Esplanade Zagreb Hotel as part of the iVino project. Second place was won by Malvazija Amfora of the same vintage and from the same winery, macerated in a buried clay vessel. The third-placed wine, Muscat Momjanski 2020, is also from Kabola winery, and also macerated in an amphora.
The Orange Malvazija 2020 from the Pervino winery in Novigrad is among the golden-hued amber wines from Istria, while the fifth gold-medal macerated wine comes from Croatian Zagorje. It is Aromano 2017, a Pinot Gris from the Bolfan Vinski Vrh winery in Hrašćina. Thirty-six samples from across Croatia, stretching from Baranja to Korčula, were submitted for evaluation.
Wines were evaluated by oenologists Ivana Vladimira Petric from the Croatian Agency for Agriculture and Foody, Samobor-based Bermet producer Antun Filipec, sommeliers Darko Lugarić and Tomislav Zdunić Žarko Stilin from the Kvarner Wines association and Ivan Dropuljić, founder and director of the Zagreb Vinocom International Wine and Culinary Festival.
Silver awards were won by the Marmor Collis 2019, made by the winemaker Antun Glavicva out of the Johanniter, Chardonnay, and Graševina, Graševina Koria 2017 and 2018 from the Kutjevo winery, Primus Pinot Sivi Orange 2018 from the Bolfan Vinski Vrh winery in Zagorje, Graševina Orange 2012 from the Kalazić winery in Batina (Baranja) and Coletti Amfora Pinot Grigio 2018 and Coletti Neuburger 2018 from Franjo Kolarić of Plešivica.
The bronze amber wines are Pinot Gris 2019 and Malvazija 2018 from Ipša winery from Livade in Istria, Istraditional 2016 made by Bruno Trapan from Šišan in Istria, Žlahtina Festivum 2019 Antun Katunar from Vrbnik on Krk island, Kujundžuša riserva 2016 Grabovac winery from Prološac and Amphora cuvee 2019, Pinot Gris, Riesling, chardonnay and Sauvignon by J&R Boutique winery from Sveta Jane on Plešivica.
Amber wines are produced from white grapes using the same methods typically employed for red wines through extended maceration of whole berries, and sometimes even the stems. Skin contact can take place in tanks or barrels, as well as in clay amphorae buried in the ground. This process may last from a few hours to several months, even years, depending on the winemaker's vision. Results are wines with a distinctive color and unique aromas and flavors. We can proudly say that Croatian amber wines rank among the best in the world.