Wines, vineyards and wine cellars of Zagorje
The most famous Zagorje verses “Došel bum doma, sel si bum pod brajde” (I'll come home and then I'll sit under the vines) testify to the distribution, success and importance of the vine in Zagorje, half an hour away from the capital. There is almost no house without a vine, and the rich offer of wine in Zagorje restaurants and wineries delights all its visitors. The hills of Zagorje are dominated by vineyards, and some of the varieties that are grown are sauvignons, Rhine Riesling, Pinot Gris, sparkling wines, Graševina ... Zagorje cellars are a reflection of the traditions, culture and way of life of the Zagorje population. Authentic Zagorje houses with all-important cellars are located right next to carefully tended vineyards. These are the places where Zagorje people come in their free time to reap the fruits of their efforts in September and enjoy the golden drops all year round. Throughout Zagorje there are cellars that have been turned into restaurants and where the enogastronomic flavours of this region blend perfectly. Some have even been converted into accommodation facilities. The Rhine Riesling is the king and leader of white wines, and the most popular red varieties are Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. From a mixture of white varieties, wines are created ideal for the famous gemišt, a drink that is always present at any gathering in Zagorje and that no visitor should miss. It is a very interesting fact that, as some research has shown, stara hrvatska belina, a grape variety that has been proven to be the parent of a large number of world varieties such as Chardonnay, Rhine Riesling, Frankovka, Moslavac, etc. The Germans call this variety heunisch weiss, and the French gouais blanc. Whichever way visitors of Zagorje go, they will surely come across the option of trying the autochthonous Zagorje wine or taking a walk among the vineyards and cellars. Both are worth it.