W3 Wine School

Plavac Mali (Croatia)

Plavac Mali (Little Blue) is the most important red grape in Croatia.

Plavac Mali Flavors

Plavac Mali has strong flavors of Blackberry, Black Cherry, Black plum, Dry Fig, and Pepper, with notes of Carob, Sage, and other Sweet Spices.

Plum
Blackberry
Black Cherry
Black
Cherry
Black Plum
Black
Plum
Fig
Fig
Pepper
Pepper
Sage
Sage
Carob
Carob
Spices
Spices

Tertiary Flavors from Aging:

Oak
Oak
Tobacco
Tobacco
Smoke
Smoke
Chocolate
Chocolate

Plavac Mali Profile

Plavac Mali produces strong wines with high alcohol, high tannins and strong flavours:

BODY:Full
TANNINS:Medium - High
FRUIT:Medium Plus
ACIDITY:Medium
ALCOHOL:14-15%
Temperature Serving temperature:
16-17°C (61-63°F)

Plavac Mali Food Pairing

Plavac Mali pairs well Rich Meat. BBQ is also a perfect match.

Ham
Ham
Salami
Salami
Stew
Stew
Oxtail Soup
Oxtail Soup
Hamburger
Hamburger
Turkey
Turkey
Duck
Duck
Rabbit
Rabbit
Pork
Pork
Wild Boar
Wild Boar
Veal
Veal
Deer
Deer

Excellent Pairings

Barbecue Sauce.
Hamburger. Bacon Burger.
Rich Meat. Stews. Oxtail Soup.
Venison Stew. Wild Boar Stew.
Roasted or Grilled BBQ.

Croatian Specialities

Dalmatinski pršut (Dry Cured Ham)
Dalmatinska Pašticada (beef Stew).


The Ideal Glass for Plavac Mali

The Bordeaux Glass was designed for enjoying fuller-bodied, tannic red wines. They are taller than other red wine glasses, and has a slimmer bowl.

The tall size allows the bouquet of the wine to develop, smooth out rough edges, play down tannins, and allow the wine to achieve balance.

The slimmer bowl directs the wine to the back of your mouth for a maximum taste.

Plavac Mali Cheese Pairing

If You Like Plavac Mali

You Might Also Like:

Barolo (Italy)
Cabernet Sauvignon (France)
Dão DOC (Portugal)
Languedoc (France)
Lebanese Red (Lebanon)
Malbec (Argentina)
Nero d'Avola (Italy)
Petite Sirah (USA)
Pinotage (South Africa)
Rioja Reserva (Spain)
Shiraz (Australia)
Super Tuscan (Italy)
Syrah (France)
Touriga Nacional (Portugal)

About Plavac Mali

Plavac Mali is the Croatian red wine king. It thrives in the challenging terrain of central and southern Dalmatia. With distinctive aromas and a complex flavor profile, it has shaped Dalmatian winemaking preferences for generations.

Plavac Mali DNA has shown a strong relation to Crljenak Kaštelanski (better known as Zinfandel).


Alcohol can be addictive. Always drink in moderation.

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