Sweet wines are a specialty around the world and ice wines are a must try due to their complexity. There are several variations of wines based on when the harvest takes place. The first harvest is in late summer to October, then there is a late harvest which involves letting the wines go past the October harvest and then there is ice wine which is harvested after freezing several times, typically ice wines are harvested by January, or February. The grapes that withstood the snow are left with intense sweetness and incredible flavor. Bodren is one of the most famous ice wine wineries in Croatia for a reason. This Northern Croatian winery has been creating award winning wines for decades.

Most grapes are harvested in the late summer through the fall, ice wine’s grapes are harvested during the middle of winter while they are completely frozen. The grapes are handpicked to ensure that they are in the right condition to create the best wine. Once harvested the frozen grapes are immediately processed through a grape crusher where they are pressed for their sweet nectar, Ice wine creators only expect 10-20% of the juice from the frozen grapes to be used for making ice wine.  

Come visit Bodren in the Krapina area so that you can try several wines. We loved the following:

Bodren cuvée sweet 2018 is a smooth fresh sweet wine that’s well balanced.

Cuvee Ledeno is true sweet orange colored ice wine. 2015

Cuvee Izborna 2016 sweet with hints of Carmel

Chardonay ledeno 2016 strong caramel flavors

Chardonnay ledeno vino 2014, doesn’t exist anymore, the last of his private collection. Not as Carmel flavored, clean, smooth and sweet.

Riesling ledeno vino 2014 is fruity syrup flavored, citrus and fresh

Pinot Bijeli lendeno vino 2018

Floral, very good flavor, smooth and fresh

Traminac berba 2017

Rich flavor, some citrus, some fig