If we were to compare Croatian wines with music, we would regularly be among the top three at the Eurovision Song Contest, and our composers would expect recognition at the Grammy or Oscar awards for film music in Los Angeles and the Brit Awards in London. There, where world stars, folk, pop, rock, rhythm & blues musicians and rappers rule. And our winemakers would do well because our wines are as diverse as the world music scene
Dedić, Ban, Gibonni...
There is, of course, a lot of average music in Croatian bottles. As well as on the top charts. But there are also Arsen Dedić, Marijan Ban, Gibonni, Parni valjak, Prljavog kazalište... Few people will change radio station because of their music, just like few people will refuse a glass of good wine, regardless of the variety and the region from which it originates. The only important thing is that they were made by the best Croatian pop and rock winemakers, most of whom listened to and tasted wine music from France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria...
There are also turbofolk wines, those that, like that music, encourage you to break glasses. However, fine wine folk songs are unique wines made from our varieties from our terroir. They are beautiful songs about beautiful feelings. Unfortunately, there are not enough of them yet. The Italians quickly caught up with the popularity of French chansons with their canzones. So, with wines made from their Nebiolo and Sangiovese varieties, they are bravely competing with French reds. The Portuguese sent fado to the world, and then wines. The world is still getting to know our klapa music. As well as wines made from Plavac Mali or Babić.
Bećarci, ballads, blues...
And although Graševina is not officially a Croatian variety, it has done well here. As well as the real folk music that delighted Robert Plant and Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin during their stay in Zagreb in 1998. The evening before the concert, somewhere in the foothills of Sljeme, Gazde played for them and delighted them so much that they invited them to be the opening act at the Dom sportova. And so, among the Graševinas, there are playful folk music, melancholic ballads and blues, and even the roar of heavy rock. And we need to present them to the world even more persistently.
The world varieties of chardonnay and sauvignon, as well as pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon, can be compared to classical music. And our winemakers have set their berries to music in scores that can be played in concert halls around the world. Producers who follow trends make fresh and light fruity wines that supposedly sell the most. More and more of our winemakers are not interested in that. They do not buy yeasts and aromas, do not hide the sediment, and they make the preservatives themselves. And they make great wines. And that is why we need to distinguish producers from winemakers.
Wine rockers are holding up well
It's time to move on, is a song that Majke released in 1996. Matošević, who started making wine in 1996, has been singing it for just as long as Goran Bare. Some have heard it to this day. There have been serious promotions of quite well-chosen Croatian pop wines in world metropolises, some of which are on the wine lists of the most famous restaurants and on the shelves of world wine shops. And wine rockers? They are not looking for help. There are more and more of them and they are pushing their own agenda. They are being listened to more and more around the world and are being consumed more and more often.