Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
After the wine bar, you'll drop down into a
plateau
surrounded by cliffs. The vines
you'll see in this so-called “continental” area are the same kind of grapes as in Postup and
Dinga
č
,buttheyreceivelesssunandarelesssweet.These
plavac mali
(“littleblue”)grapes
are a distant relative of California zinfandel and Italian
primitivo
. Notice that many of the
vines appear to be almost wild; these are older vineyards, which aren't irrigated, so they
must let the vines grow this way to help them survive the hot summer months. This method
maximizesyieldbutreducesquality.Newervineyardsareirrigatedanduseguidewires,and
generally look more manicured.
Soon you'll arrive in the village of
Potomje,
which is at the center of this important
wine-growing area. Several wineries cluster here, including some that are open for tastings
and tours. Three are particularly accessible to visitors and offer a helpful introduction to
Pelješac wines: Madirazza, Matuško, and Violi
ć
. While the first two can be quite touristy
(with big bus tours passing through occasionally), Violi
ć
is an appealingly Back Door ex-
perience, and worth saving for last. All three are staffed by friendly English-speakers who
are eager to introduce you to their wines; while the tastings are free, they're hoping you'll
buy a bottle or two. (If you want a more elaborate tasting with food pairings or for a small
group, call ahead.) All three are open long hours daily (around 8:00-20:00, close earlier in
shoulderseason,generallyclosedNov-March—butcallaheadandtheymaybeabletoopen
for you, cash only).
