Meet Negotians Vinarius
Croatia’s islands are idyllic. Set in turquoise waters, these lands have been inhabited by humans for thousands of years, and for as long as that, wine has been made and consumed here. Firstly, by the Greeks, and then the Romans. There are many old traditions surrounding viticulture and wine production that exist still today, and a cultural heritage that longs for preservation.
Marko Kovac, our friend and colleague, who is also the founder of the famed natural wine fair, Karakterre, discovered amazing fruit being grown organically on the island of Korčula in Croatia. It is here where many old, salt of the earth farmers work their land according to organic and natural principles, as they have always done for many years. However, the tragedy Marko quickly realised that these indigenous grapes that had been grown so lovingly and with such care, were being sold to the local cooperative and disappearing into the beast that is cheap, bulk wine.
Marko’s intention is to work with these small grape growers, and make pure, unadulterated expressions of the local Pošip grape. These wines are bottled unfiltered and with zero sulphur additions. They are wild, and a little bit like free jazz. It’s no surprise then that his red cuvée is named Coltrane.
