Royal Vineyards - a Story That Lasts for Nine Centuries

The monastery was founded by the nun Čika (Chicca), a distinctive, significant and influential person in Zadar and beyond. After the death of her husband Andrija, she decided to be ordained, so she had a new monastery built on the foundations of a little old church. As she was of noble birth and born into an influential family, even of royal blood, she was on friendly terms with the then king of the Croats. He even addressed her with "s moja sestro" (sorormea-my sister), supported her intentions and the project and gave her fertile land, on which for centuries afterwards vineyards have been planted. 

The Benedictine nuns of Zadar, the custodians of the priceless Gold and Silver of Zadar, zealously took care of their vineyards until the middle of the last century, when the government, carrying out the so-called land reform, took away their property. It was returned to them only by the Republic of Croatia twenty years ago, and then they decided to rent it for a long period to interested vine-growers.  Interestingly, these nuns from Zadar still work hard on their property in Smilčić near Zadar, so among other things, they make quality wines, as well as olive oil, liqueurs, jam and similar.

Indigenous wines of Dalmatia

Zoran Pantalon from Zadar, the director of the Royal Vineyards, became interested in their two and a half-acre property in Petrčane. In 2010, he and his partners set about planting new vineyards in place of the old ones. Heavy machinery equipment crushed all the stone on the ground, so the vine-growers literally buried the young vines in gravel in a deep rocky base. Later, it will turn out to have been a great move: on such a substratum, in a specific terroir, on gentle slopes and permanent exposure to the sun, the vines today give fewer grapes, but of top quality, and wines are of distinct freshness, minerality and fruitiness. 

Due to the historical fact that the vineyards were planted here after being donated by one of the most important Croatian kings, the new complex was named Kraljevski vinogradi – the Royal Vineyards.

Director Pantalon and his partners decided to plant well-known indigenous Dalmatian varieties - Pošip, Plavac and Crljenak (Zinfandel), which make up 80 per cent of the assortment. To a smaller extent, they planted the introduced varieties - red - Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrach, Merlot, Plavina, and from white Chardonnay, Žilavka, Sauvignon and Muscat Yellow. Today, the grapes from the Royal Vineyards are squeezed into two branded lines. The first line of premium wines is named Punta Skala after the nearby cape west of Petrčane. In this line are the three main stars of the Royal Vineyards, Pošip, then Rosa, Crljenak, Plavac Mali and Muscat, and this year Žilavka and Chardonnay join the same line. The second line brands quality wines called Grgur Vinski (the name is derived from Bishop Grgur Ninski), and it contains three wines: Pošip, Plavac and Rosa from Plavac and Crljenka. 

After only a few years of planting and the first serious wine productions of the Royal Vineyards, they began to win awards at regional wine competitions  year after year and soon afterwards at the most prestigious international competition, Decanter London. They quickly found buyers worldwide, and the significant export business was destined - for distant Japan. Two years ago, the rose' "Punta Skala" in the Japanese Oyster Wine Contest competition in Tokyo received the world award rated as the best rose wine that goes well with oysters. It was an exceptional award because over 54,000 bottles of wine from all over the world took part in the competition. Only this rose' won the wine label with the seal of the competition placed on each bottle's neck and offered to the best restaurants in Japan. Wine lovers in Japan especially appreciate the pošip from Royal Vineyards, so the wine line from Petrčane to the best Japanese restaurants does not stop.

Although all the wines of the Royal Vineyards, both red and white, have won over wine lovers, the pošip from these vineyards, in one variant, aged in barrique barrels, charms true wine connoisseurs the most. This variety originated from the island of Korčula, but, especially in recent decades, winegrowers have spread it throughout Dalmatia, even in Zadar, a distinctly wine-growing region. It is a dry wine with a specific taste and aroma of apricot, fig… a liquid image of the Mediterranean and Dalmatia which in the Royal Vineyards has assumed a new face. It goes ideally with fish dishes, white, lighter meat and cheeses.

The place where green and blue meet

No matter how much the wines of the Royal Vineyards may be sought after and appreciated and quickly found and tasted in many restaurants in Zadar, it is undoubtedly best to taste and enjoy them in the place they come from - in the vineyards themselves. The large and spacious complex is complemented by a tasting room and tavern located on an extensive plateau next to the vineyards. The plateau is decorated with authentic Mediterranean plants such as lavender, a small grove of olive trees is planted, and guests can enjoy several separate terraces, grape arbours and winter conservatories arranged so that they can ensure intimacy and peace to each group of guests and each visitor. The culinary team of the Royal Vineyards is always ready to offer dishes of indigenous Dalmatian cuisine, such as those cooked under a baking lid (peka), on the spit or grilled. Or just top quality Pag cheese and Dalmatian prosciutto. 

In combination with top wines, what is fascinating in the Royal Vineyards is a breathtaking view over the sea from that space devised for relaxation and created for hedonists. In front of the guest is a large canvas with a range of colours, long green rows of vineyards that seem to merge with the blue sea of the Zadar Channel through the picturesque town of Petrčane. The view extends to the entire "Zadar Sea", from Cape Puntamika in Zadar, through Punta Radman with the hotel "Pinija" in Petrčane and Punta Skala on the extreme western border of the place where the top hotels of the "Falkensteiner" chain are located. Only three or four miles away, across the Zadar Channel, blue changes to green again on the slopes of the island of Ugljan, which connects into an almost unbroken series of islands in the Zadar archipelago. 

Therefore, it would be a big mistake to come to Zadar and Petrčane and not visit the Royal Vineyards and miss the hard-working winegrowers' and winemakers' interwoven passion and love in every drop of wine that is squeezed out of the stone and the warm Mediterranean climate. And above all, to enjoy the fascinating view in which the setting sun is just one of the many decorations.