Škrlet has great potential in Mediterranean cuisine

Škrlet is experiencing a boom. Moslavina winegrowers are expanding their vineyards and growing this indigenous grape variety, and winemakers are using it to create monovarietal wines of various styles.

Škrlet is becoming increasingly present on the wine lists of restaurants and hotels, and oenologists and sommeliers see a new opportunity in pairing it with Mediterranean dishes. "We primarily recognize Škrlet as a light, airy wine, but its potential goes beyond the borders of its wine region - Central Hilly Croatia. Škrlet needs to expand its application as an aperitif wine. Dalmatia, Kvarner and Istria need exactly such wines to start a meal and wines for dishes such as tuna carpaccio, prawns and scampi. Škrlet pairs wonderfully with these dishes. Interesting things are happening, Škrlet is being recognized as the most important indigenous variety of continental Croatia and it makes a perfect match with many Mediterranean dishes," said sommelier Josip Orišković at a workshop organized by the Association of Winemakers and Winegrowers of Bregovita Croatia in Zagreb to present the potential of Škrlet to restaurateurs and caterers.

After decades of not receiving much attention, Škrlet began to attract public interest again a few years ago. The winemakers who produce it are most responsible for this. They raised its quality, and then began to present it to the market jointly. "Škrlet is on an upward trajectory! Behind it stands the unity of winemakers from Moslavina. Škrlet is now grown on only 70 hectares, a small area in world terms, but it is our great pride. That is why we want it to be recognizable in Croatia and beyond. I believe that our unity can help with that. Namely, when you go abroad, those with the least are the most united. That is how we are gathered around our Škrlet, although each winemaker has their own style, and each winery offers Škrlet in several styles. We want to show the market what Škrlet can offer. It goes with appetizers and main courses, and it can also be a dessert wine on its own," said Ivana Gelo from the Seletković winery.

Orišković explained that Škrlet draws its power from its own genome, climate, and soil. "Due to its purple dots, Škrlet develops a structure on the border between white and red wine. So, although it is a white, light wine, due to its reddish background, it can also support stronger dishes. We are leaders in producing Škrlet as a light, airy wine that suits a variety of dishes. I am glad that other winemakers have followed suit with their wine styles," said Petra Miklaužić from the Miklaužić winery.

The current challenge for producers is the growing demand for škrlet.

"Its position on the Croatian wine scene is clear, but we lack quantity. If we want to become prominent players on the market with Škrlet, in the next ten years, we must progress in increasing the area or converting vineyards from international varieties to Škrlet. Moslavina with Škrlet on the wine scene has great potential and we need to exploit it," said Hrvoje Košutić, representative of Vina Košutić.

At the wine workshop, the participants tasted Škrlet wines from the Florijanović, Glavica, Jančar, Kezele, Klet Romić, Košutić, Miklaužić, Mikša, Seletković and Voštinić Klasnić wineries. The sommelier pointed out that Florijanović's Škrlet from the 2022 vintage won the Decanter gold medal, and that the Glavica Škrlet is the first Croatian wine with a Demeter biodynamic certificate.

MIVA, a distributor of Riedel, an Austrian glassware manufacturer, has introduced Riedel's škrlet glass. It is a glass bearing the symbol of a ram, designed by the Bruketa&Žinić&Grey agency, because the škrlet is also called the yellow ram.

Photos: Matej Ščavničar