Ruby red in colour, this is an easy-drinking red wine with juicy black and red berry fruit aromas of plums, cherries, cranberries, and blackberries. The palate is smooth and medium bodied, with the ripe fruity flavours balanced by fresh acidity, smooth tannins and complementary notes of herbs and spices.
The Frankovka grapes were harvested by hand and transported to the winery where the fruit was destemmed and crushed. Maceration and fermentation with selected yeasts lasted 12 days in temperature-controlled stainless-stell tanks at 24ºC, where it remained during malolactic fermentation. After pressing, the wine was transferred to used Slavonian oak barrels of 3000 and 4000 litres made from the surrounding forests. The wine was aged for six to nine months before being filtered and bottled.
In 2018, winemaker Martin Kovačević and his wife, vineyard manager Lucija Kovačević, took the reins of this historic estate. The young couple, who met while studying viticulture and oenology at the University of Zagreb, now work from a newly renovated, modern winery and farm 160 hectares of vines on the slopes of the Krndija mountain. Their DIKA range (translating to ’pride’ in Croatian) is sealed under screwcap to preserve freshness and celebrates varieties native to central Europe.
The winery’s history dates back to 1804, with their original cellar located in Feričanci, a village in the region of Slavonia, Eastern Croatia. Winemaking was first introduced to the region by Cistercian and Templar monks during the 13th century. It remains one of Croatia’s key wine regions today, though is perhaps best known as the source of the Slavonian oak widely used in winemaking across the world.
Slavonia is home to Croatia’s most important white grape Graševina (aka Welschriesling). This aromatic variety accounts for approximately a third of plantings in the region and produces textured wines with bright acidity and orchard fruit flavours. Vinified in stainless steel tanks, DIKA Graševina is fresh and fruit-driven, with floral aromas, white peach flavours and a touch of almond on the finish. The label pays tribute to Dora Pejačević, Croatia’s first female composer, who is credited with popularising orchestral music in the country during the 19th century.
Frankovka (aka Blaufränkisch), described locally as `the queen of the vineyards`, has a rich history in Croatia and accounts for almost a third of Feravino’s vines. Aged for six to nine months in large, used Slavonian oak barrels made from the surrounding forests, this is an easy-drinking red wine with juicy black and red berry fruit aromas balanced by fresh acidity, smooth tannins and complementary notes of herbs and spices.
