COLOUR
Red
TYPE
Still
VINTAGE
2021
GRAPE
Plavac Mali
PRODUCER
Podrum Matuško
REGION
Pelješac Peninsula
CHARACTERISTICS
Body
Full
Sweetness
Dry
Acidity
Medium - High
Finish
Long
Intensity
Pronounced
Tannins
High
AROMAS & FLAVOURS
ABOUT THIS WINE
Podrum Matuško, founded by the charismatic winemaker Mato Violić-Matuško in Potomje, is one of the most famous estates on Croatia's Pelješac Peninsula. The Dingač appellation, established in 1961 as Croatia's first Protected Designation of Origin, is legendary for its extreme, south-facing limestone slopes that plunge directly into the Adriatic Sea. Here, the indigenous Plavac Mali grape thrives under a unique 'triple insolation' effect, receiving direct sunlight, heat reflected from the white karst stones, and light bouncing off the sea. This extreme viticulture, where slopes reach up to 70 degrees, requires painstaking hand-harvesting and yields wines of immense concentration and cultural significance.
ALCOHOL
15.0%
AVG. PRICE
€20
STYLE
Classic
VEGAN
NO
SULPHITES
YES
When to drink
Now or Later
Ideal temperature
16-18°C
INTERESTING FACTS
Fact 01
The iconic label features donkeys, honoring the animals that historically carried harvested grapes up the steep 70-degree slopes of Dingač.
Fact 02
Dingač was the very first wine region in Croatia to receive Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status, back in 1961.
Fact 03
Founder Mato Violić-Matuško is a legendary figure in Croatian wine, known as much for his premium Plavac Mali as his passion for motorcycles.
FOOD PAIRING
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WINE MAKING PROCESS
The winemaking process for Matuško Dingač begins with a rigorous hand-harvest on the steep slopes of the Pelješac Peninsula, where mechanization is impossible. The grapes undergo traditional skin-contact fermentation in temperature-controlled tanks to maximize the extraction of color, flavor, and robust tannins from the thick-skinned Plavac Mali. Following fermentation, the wine is aged in a combination of large oak casks and smaller barrique barrels for a minimum of 12 to 24 months, depending on the batch's development. This extensive wood contact rounds out the rustic tannins and integrates the high natural alcohol, preparing the wine for long-term bottle aging.
