{"title":"Wines of Slavonia","description":"\u003cp\u003eOsijek may well claim to be the capital of the beer that flows freely in its pubs, small cheerful establishments hidden within its architecture inherited from the socialist era. It is nonetheless at the heart of the region that produces almost half of Croatia's wine, Slavonia. Here, people live simply, nurtured by the land that nourishes them. The food is generous: čobanac, a kind of goulash prepared with the cuts of the day (game, veal, mutton, etc.) and stewed in a pot, or fiš paprikaš, a traditional dish based on freshwater fish. All seasoned with local paprika. Around the town, landscapes range from monotonous cereal fields to untouched wilderness: ponds, meadows, swamps and centuries-old oak forests make these places all the more bright and abundant as they are home to a wide diversity of fauna and flora.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKnown as the \"Golden Valley\" under Roman rule, this region has long been coveted and contested by empires for the fertility of its soil, irrigated by the Danube and its affluents. The moderate continental climate of the valleys, whose slopes are planted with vines at altitudes ranging from 150 to 450 meters, allows for an extremely rich viticulture. Alongside imported grape varieties (Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gewurztraminer, etc.), there are over 40 indigenous varieties, including Pošip (pronounced poe-ship), Grk (pronounced g-r-k) and Kujundžuša (pronounced ku-iun-dzu-sha). Among them, Graševina dominates, used either as a single varietal or in multiple variants of high-end sparkling wines, light young wines or complex old wines.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA land of History studded with fortresses, Slavonia is also a land of myths and legends. The Slavonic divinity Slata-Baba, the Golden Old Woman, mother of the local gods, is said to have chosen Slavonia as the place to deliver her oracles in exchange for a musical instrument or, failing that, a beard stubble. Somewhere in Slavonia, she is said to have hidden a temple. Even today, the land is honored during harvest festivals, and in the village of Gorjani, a ritual whose origins have been lost is held every spring at the occasion of Pentecost: during the \"Procession of the Queens\", five young girls, wearing sabres and men's hats, play the role of kings, while five others, crowned with white garlands, play the role of queens. The queens visit every house in the village, and then those of neighboring villages, to perform a sabre dance accompanied by folk songs and dances.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"galic-grasevina-2021","title":"Galić Graševina 2021","description":"\u003ch4 data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePerfect for a light meal, this fine, well-balanced white Graševina 2021 is the ideal companion for terrace evenings.\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eCroatia is best known for its Adriatic coastline and sun-soaked islands. But the inland is also well worth a visit. Particularly Eastern Slavonia, a region nestled between Serbia and Hungary, which has been producing wine for at least 2000 years. The Romans, who were stationed there to limit barbarian incursions, nicknamed it \u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eVallis Aurea\u003c\/em\u003e (the Valley of Gold) as its vineyards and wines had so much marked their discerning taste buds. Today, Slavonia, which accounts for 40% of Croatian wine production, boasts a number of famous vineyards, but some newcomers are also bringing in a healthy dose of new blood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eSuch is the case of Galić, a 60-hectare vineyard in the Požega valley, named after its founder Joseph Galić. A veteran businessman, Joseph Galić has built up an impressive winery in just a few years - his first vintage only dates back to 2008 - producing 300,000 bottles a year. While his team does not shy from using international grape varietals, including an award-winning Chardonnay, they also make the most of indigenous varietals, as in this 100% Graševina white (otherwise known as Italian Riesling), a grape varietal that is among the most representative and distinctive of this Balkan country.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWith its light-yellow color and greenish highlights, this wine combines sensations of white flowers and fruit, notably pear and vine peach, with a discreet hint of rhubarb on the nose. On the palate, it reveals delicate tastes of citrus peels with a hint of pineapple, all wrapped in fine acidity. Croatians recommend it alongside a paprika sausage called Kulen. But if you don't really appreciate cold cuts (or if you're unable to find this Croatian delicacy), this Graševina can also be enjoyed with more common dishes: fish, seafood or even white meat risotto.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Vins du Monde","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46551926636883,"sku":"1020","price":17.9,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0728\/4847\/4451\/files\/Galic.png?v=1691422101"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0728\/4847\/4451\/collections\/2-1_jpg.webp?v=1691441093","url":"https:\/\/www.altcellars.at\/en\/collections\/slavonia.oembed","provider":"ALTCELLARS","version":"1.0","type":"link"}