“The next big thing” By Deborah Grossman Compared to Napa Valley, Croatia is a minor league player in wine tourism. Was this eager-to- emerge region relevant to those seeking unique wine experiences? Curled on the couch a few days later, I heard An- thony Bourdain summarize his view of the coun- try’s gastronomy during his “Croatia’s Adriatic Coast” episode of “No Reservations” on the Travel Channel. “The next big thing is Croatia,” said the peri- patetic chef. “If you haven’t been there, you’re (expletive deleted).” The words resonated to me and his huge fan base. I found evidence of his popularity from Frank Dietrich, the importer of Bibich wines where Bourdain visited. Traffic to Dietrich’s Blue Danube Wine Co. website increased 20-fold in the two weeks after the show aired. Yet for vacationers, the word is already out that Adri- atic Croatia is the “The Other Mediterranean.” I avoided the coastal roads jammed with tourists bee-lining to the beaches and headed for Continental Croatia’s wine country. From picturesque towns near Zagreb to the contrast of old wine cellars and modern technology in the eastern regions, I discovered young, dynamic winemakers producing notable wines and culture-rich, EU-designated wine roads. 2
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