Zlatan Otok
Zlatan’s vision: From Fishing Village to Wine Paradise
On the steep southern slopes of Hvar, where limestone cliffs tower over the Adriatic, Zlatan Otok crafts wines that embody the raw beauty of Dalmatia. Founded in 1986 by Zlatan Plenković — a fisherman with no formal winemaking training but a fierce belief in the potential of coastal Croatian wines — the winery helped spark the rebirth of private winemaking in post-communist Croatia, as only the second private winery established following Croatia’s independence.
Zlatan Otok – translated to “golden island” – began in the coastal village of Sveta Nedjelja, where generations had grown Plavac Mali on rocky terraces but had no means to turn grapes into bottled wine. Building his first cellar by hand, Zlatan made wine for guests at his seaside guesthouse – rustic but soulful wines. Encouraged by demand, he persuaded local growers to sell him grapes on credit and invested in rebuilding abandoned vineyards, planting steep parcels that few dared to farm.
Viticulture at the Edge of the Adriatic: Hvar’s Rugged Terrain
The vineyards on Hvar’s southern coast are extreme — up to 60% gradient, carved into karst rock, with no irrigation. Farming here is entirely manual, and yields are remarkably low: less than 0.5 kg per vine. These conditions result in concentrated, powerful fruit, grown organically without the need for spraying. “This is one of the most ecological vineyard zones in the world,” says Nikola Plenković. “The vines live off the humidity stored in the stone.”
The Plenković family also has vineyards on the mainland in Šibenik and Makarska, where they are still practicing organic, only using organic treatments as needed in the vineyards.
Native Grapes, Coastal Soul
Zlatan Otok remains a family operation and one of Croatia’s most respected producers, now with a large plot of vineyards on the mainland in Makarska, as well as their estate vineyards on Hvar. Their focus is on native varieties, especially Plavac Mali, a relative of Zinfandel. Top cuvées like Zlatan Plavac Grand Cru and Crljenak (Croatia’s original Zinfandel) have won countless awards, while their native white grapes — including grapes like Pošip and Bogdanuša — come from cooler mainland and coastal sites, balancing the power of the reds with freshness and lift, and mouthwatering salinity.
Bilo Idro: Winery at Sea
At the base of the winery, built with limestone boulders dug out from the cliffs just above the sea, is Bilo Idro, Zlatan Otok’s marina and open-air restaurant. Sailboats dock just steps from the wine cellar, and guests dine on locally caught fish paired with the estate’s wines. The house specialty is gregada, a traditional Dalmatian fisherman’s stew made with white fish, potatoes, olive oil, and garlic — simple, soulful, and deeply rooted in island life. Like the wines, it reflects the philosophy that guides Zlatan Otok: let the land — and the sea — speak.
Today, the legacy of Zlatan Plenković lives on through their wines. From sea to stone, from vine to bottle, they reflect the raw beauty of Dalmatia and the determination of a man who believed that great wine could rise from one of Europe’s most overlooked terroirs.
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