Jagunić Winery in Plešivica: Tasty Bubbly & Amber Wines

Continuing our visit to the Croatian wine region of Plešivica, our next visit was to the Jagunić Winery, located in Plešivica. We were looking forward to sampling more Sparkling Wines and Amber wines, hoping to continue to find excellent examples from this region. We were certainly not disappointed, and also enjoyed a delightful lunch. 

Jagunić is a family winery, owned and operated by 3 brothers, and our host was the oldest brother, Dominik. Dominik went to school for wine, finishing college in 2011, and he began making wine in 2013. His father "retired" from the operation of the winery in 2017, however he actually still works in the vineyards, and probably won't stop until he is physically unable to do so. True passion for the vine.

Dominik provided us some of his thoughts on the Plešivica region. First, he mentioned that the region can easily grow at least 30 different grapes however it doesn't currently have a signature grape, like many other regions. Even though this may be the case, I think Plešivica could make a case for having a signature type of wine, Sparkling. Dominik noted that the terroir of the region is excellent for bubbly, and it also fills a hole in the market. He also stated that there are few indigenous wineries in the region as most of those grapes are best for Sparkling wines and not still wines.   

Around 10-11 years ago, Jagunić started producing Sparkling wine and now it constitutes about 40% of their production. Annually, they only produce roughly 4,000 cases of wine and grow nearly all of their own grapes. They make three labels of Sparkling wine, including a Blanc de Blancs, made from 100% Chardonnay. Their first vintage for that wine was 2016 and currently only about 1560 bottles of the wine are produced. Nearly all of their Sparkling Wine, except the Blanc de Blancs, are non-vintage. However, the bubbly usually only has about 15% from another vintage so technically they could label it as vintage if they so desired. Dominik also told us, that "If you have a good base wine, your Sparkling wine can be three times better, but if you have a poor base wine, then the Sparkling wine will be five times worse."

In addition to their Sparkling wine, Jagunić also make 4 labels of Amber wines, all 100% varietal, including Pinot Noir, Traminac, Riesling, and Pinot Gris.

From the back porch of the winery, we could look out over their vineyards of Traminac (aka Gewürztraminer), which were planted in 2006, when Dominic started college. They believe the grape is ideal for sweet/dessert wines.  

We began out tasting with the NV Jagunić Three Stars Brut, produced in the Méthode Champenoise, from a blend of 40% Chardonnay, 10% Riesling, and 50% of a field blend of local varieties. The grapes come from three different vineyards, their best sites, and this particular wine was primarily from the 2019 harvest. Each year, the blend varies some, and the wine was a 12.5% ABV.  This wine is their main product, and it's available in Massachusetts, for around $30. It was fresh and crisp, with tiny bubbles, and a pleasing blend of flavors, including green apple, pear, a hint of brioche, and a lengthy finish. An excellent way to begin our tasting.

During the tasting, lunch was served, and we began with a light course of a domestic beef soup with home-made pasta. The broth and noodles were delicious, the broth possessing a nice depth of flavor. A very simple soup but compelling nonetheless. 

We moved onto the NV Jagunić Blanc de Noirs, which was made from 100% Pinot Noir, spent two years on the lees, and had a 12.5% ABV. This was an interesting wine, with upfront cherry notes but with a mild smokiness permeating the rest of the taste. Good acidity, some intensity in the taste, and a richer mouthfeel. A very different Sparkling wine.

The NV Jagunić La Bulle Rose, made from a blend of 70% Blauer Portugieser and 30% Pinot Noir, had a 12.5% ABV. The first vintage of this wine was 2016, and they initially experimented with a 100% Blauer Portugieser wine but found it lacking. Thus, they added some Pinot Noir to fill what they felt was missing. This wine is produced for the summer, and was bright, light and crisp, rwith tasty red fruit flavors. I think this would be another excellent wine for Thanksgiving too.  

A fresh and simple Salad was then served for lunch.

The centerpiece of our Lunch was a platter of veal neck, chicken filet (stuffed with cheese and ham), potatoes, and vegetables, all prepared under a Peka. Check out my prior post for more details about the Peka, such a superb way to prepare a meal. Our lunch was prepared by Dominik's mother, and it was delicious, with very tender and flavorful meats. 

There was also fresh home-made bread, with an excellent crusty exterior and a pillowy soft interior. This was all pure comfort food, and went very well with the wines. 

As for Amber wines, we enjoyed the 2020 Amber Pinot Crni (Pinot Noir), which underwent 7 months of maceration. With a 13.4% ABV, the wine had a light red color, and an interesting nose of red fruit. On the palate, it was bright and dry, intense and intriguing, with tart cherry flavors and hints of spice. A very pleasant and interesting wine.

I was also enamored with the 2020 Amber Traminac Crveni, with a 13.1% ABV. An alluring nose of tropical fruit, herbs and floral elements, all of which also come out on the palate. Firm but restrained tannins, honey notes, bright spices, kiwi and pineapple, and a lengthy, satisfying finish. Such an intriguing wine, bringing new flavors to your mouth with every sip. Highly recommended. 

Our visit to Jagunić Winery continued to confirm my respect for the wines of the Plešivica region, especially their Sparkling and Amber wines. Plešivica is also a region of natural beauty. In addition, we enjoyed a delicious lunch, and if you visit the Dalmatian region of Croatia, you must have a Peka experience, and preferably at someone's home rather than a restaurant.