Wines Unspecified Ilocki podrumi - Izborna Berba Bobica - 2019

This sweet white wine, hailing from the renowned Ilok cellars (Ilocki podrumi) in Croatia’s Slavonia region, offers a fascinating insight into the country’s dessert wine tradition. Named “Cuvée Izborna Berba Bobica” and vintage 2019, this wine is a fine example of the region’s dedication to late-harvest or berry-selected wines. The precise grape varieties used in this cuvée are not specified, but Slavonia is best known for cultivating native white grapes such as Graševina (Welschriesling) and occasionally aromatic varieties, which tend to deliver wines with balanced sweetness, vivid freshness, and delicate complexity. Ilok’s pedigree for sweet wines is well established, with careful harvesting and vinification techniques designed to showcase the concentration and natural sugar of carefully selected berries.

Slavonia, situated in eastern Croatia along the Danube valley, is blessed with a continental climate. This means warm summers, cold winters, and frequent spring and autumn mists—ideal for slow ripening and occasional development of noble rot in certain years, offering extra richness and aromatic intensity to sweet wines. The soils, typically loamy with mineral content, contribute freshness and a certain elegance. The region has a long, storied history as one of the country’s leading wine territories, with Ilok itself often cited as a cradle of Croatian winemaking.

This style of luscious, dessert white pairs beautifully with fruit-based desserts like apple strudel or poached pears, classic choices echoing local Croatian cuisine. Alternatively, try a piece of blue cheese or a rich pâté as a savoury counterpart to the wine’s sweetness. For a regional highlight, serve with Slavonian walnut cake.

To enjoy all the aromatic depth and refreshing lift, serve this sweet wine well-chilled, ideally between 8-10°C. The half-bottle format is perfectly suited to intimate occasions and preserves the wine’s freshness for a memorable after-dinner treat.