The KORTA KATARINA (KK) winery and Villa Katarina are a wine lovers dream. Located in the small coastal town of Orebic, KK is the first local venue of its kind in Southern Croatia. The KK winery, wine bar, Villa Katarina (which opened in November 2018) and vineyards are perched on the edge of the crystal-clear Adriatic Sea and provide breathtaking views of Croatia's Dalmatian Coast. Considered one of the most stunning coastlines in the world, the Dalmatian Coasts Dingac and Postup regions of the Peljesac Peninsula and the region of Cara, on the Island of Korcula, produce KORTA KATARINA's award winning wines. Why Croatia? Americans, Lee and Penny Anderson, traveled to post-war Croatia in 2001 with nonprofit organization St. David's Relief Foundation in an effort to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Anderson's assisted in reconstruction of schools and infrastructure for the thousands of people who remained displaced by the devastating war in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia. While in Bosnia-Herzegovina, The Anderson's traveled to neighboring Croatia and fell in love with Southern Croatia's scenic and architectural beauty, strong cultural heritage, fine cuisine, and a surprising find... the wine! The Andersons passion for wine (Original Trustees of the Naples Winter Wine Festival in Naples, Florida) and equally newfound passion for Croatia inspired them to build KORTA KATARINA. They purchased the infamous "Rivijera" hotel on the Adriatic Sea in the small Southern Croatian town of Orebic, started purchasing small parcels of land on the Peljesac Peninsula's Dingac and Postup regions and KK released its first vintage in 2006. Over the past 10 years, The Anderson's and KORTA KATARINA have completed construction on a new state of the art KK winery, tasting room and wine bar and the new 10 suite boutique hotel "VILLA KATARINA" which opened in November 2018. The KORTA KATARINA name... The KORTA KATARINA estate is located in a region renowned for its culture, seaports and winemaking traditions that date back to the Roman Empire. For centuries, "kortas" were the center of family gatherings for sea captains and sailors embarking on worldly adventures. The KORTA KATARINA name represents the kortas/gardens of Croatia and the family name Katarina/Katharine of KK founders and owners Lee and Penny Anderson. KK Vineyards Croatia sits across the Adriatic from one of the most revered wine regions in the world. Southern Croatia's jagged and rocky coastline, dozens of white sand islands, hidden coves and miles of blue Adriatic Sea coastline is home to winemaking traditions that date back to 5 BC. Today, there are over 300 defined wine regions in Croatia, which are largely divided between the warmer continental areas and the coastal stretches that boast the flawless Mediterranean temperatures. At the KORTA KATARINA Winery, the winegrowing team believes that great wine is a reflection of its origin. The wines made at KK express the terrain of the Dalmatian coastal areas of the Dingac and Postup regions of the Peljesac Peninsula and the Cara region on the Island of Korcula. Dingac and Postup Region Winemaking The Dingac and Postup regions of The Peljesac Peninsula produce wines that are rich in flavor and high in both alcohol and tannins. These regions are home to the indigenous Plavac Mali grape. The name Plavac Mali refers to the small blue grapes that the vines produce. In Croatian plavo means "blue" / plavac refers to "what is blue" and mali means "small." The above average climatic conditions, supreme coastal locations and rocky and the well-drained hillsides is the perfect environment for the plavac mali grape and allows it to "suffer" slightly on the vine. It is this "suffering," combined with the abundance of olive trees, local fruits, flowers and wild herbs, that produce the beauty of KORTA KATARINA'S Plavac Mali, Reuben's Private Reserve Plavac Mali, DECENT X Plavac Mali and Rosé wines. The results are full- bodied, deeply colored wines that taste of dried cherries, hints of raspberries and other earthy characteristics. Cara Region on the Island of Korcula KORTA KATARINA'S Posip and our new Sabion sparkling wine are made from select purchased Posip grapes from the Cara region on the Island of Korcula - Croatian's claim it is the true birthplace of the great explorer Marco Polo. Cara is the only area the Posip grapes grows and is abundant with wild flowers, green apples, peaches, and a variety of trees represented in the delightful bouquets of KORTA KATARINA'S Posip and Sabion wines.