Saints Hills WineryAn unending quest
Croatia, at the heart of Europe, at the heart of the Mediterranean. Adriatic sea and our Saints Hills’ vineyards are but a stone’s throw away from Dubrovnik, and two from Diocletian’s Palace in Split and Vespasian’s Amphitheater in Pula.
Here we celebrate the sea and sun, Dalmatia and Istria, Bora and Scirocco, stone and vine.
And through this little window in our house, amid the Dingač vineyards, you can see the millennial path of the holy liquid wine, from the Greek amphorae that carried it through the canal, to the wooden trabaccoli that carried it to Split. Following a path on both sides of the Pelješac peninsula, all the way to Istria, we outlined in search of perfection.
DiscoverOur Wines
Nature was more than kind to us: birthplaces of our wines offer outstanding conditions for viticulture, at the same time being one of the most beautiful places on Earth. We are obliged to give back through winemaking, constant learning, and searching for perfection.
Vineyard Sv. LucijaErnest Tolj Dingač
- Tasting notesThe essence of sunny Dalmatia packed in a bottle of wine. Dark ruby-red with a lighter borderline color. The scent is not aggressive on the first nose, yet it is very layered. In the beginning with lots of herb aromas and hints of tobacco, to later be more opened to ripe fruitiness of dry plums followed by notes of raisins and hints of very ripe, almost baked cherry. In the mouth it shows true richness. At the beginning and on the middle palate dominates concentration and very ripe fruit of Dingač which immediately stimulates the sensation of sweetness which is then, at the end, joined by a pleasant spiciness and a nice feel of warmness. Aftertaste is extremely long, and with its cherry aromas, brings us back to beginning, inevitably demanding another sip.
- Grape Variety100% Plavac mali
- Ageing24 months in 100% new French oak
Vineyard Sv. LucijaDingac
- Tasting notesIntensive ruby red with purple nuances. Nose is dominated by cherry aromas followed by those of blackberry and blueberry. Well balanced start reveals a warm and full bodied wine of a pleasant acidity. Dingač is dominated by elements of chocolate and ripe fruit, and some nutty elements in the background. Rich in mediterranean spices such as oregano, basil and some mint. Full-bodied, rounded, silky tannins, the palate is dominated by plums, dark chocolate, carob, and cookie aromas, followed by smokey scents of tobacco. Very long-lasting spicy finish.
- Grape Variety100% Plavac mali
- AgeingDingač ferments in big wooden vats partially and in is partially barrel fermenter. It ages for 18-24 months in French oak barriques, and it is left to rest in the bottle for at least 6 months before release.
Vineyard Sv. RokoSv. Roko
- Tasting notesRuby red with purple nuances. Aromas of ripe tree fruit and berries, followed by plum, fig, and blackberry. Also very intensive aromas of thyme and oregano, bourbon vanilla, finishing with woody aromas and leather. Full-bodied, layered texture dominated by plums and figs, and Mediterranean herbs. Well, balanced long finish.
- Grape Variety100% Plavac mali
- AgeingThis wine is fermented in big wooden vats and big concrete tanks. It is aged in 20%new French oak barriques, and partially in concrete, to preserve freshness, for 12-14 months. After that, it takes some time in the bottle before release.
Vineyard Sv. RokoBlack
- Tasting notesIntensive ruby red with purple nuances. Black is a very good representation of Plavac mali variety. On the nose, You can find a lot of cherry and plum scents, as well as some Mediterranean spice such as thyme or oregano. On the palate, it is a full-bodied fruity red, with notes of Forrest-Fruit, and some nice vanilla aftertaste. It is well paired with various meat dishes, but also some traditional blue fish grilled dishes. Very long-lasting spicy finish.
- Grape Variety100% Plavac mali
- AgeingBlack is a wine made of 100% Plavac mali from the southern Dalmatia. It is a blend between our two vineyards of Sv. Roko Komarna and Sv.Lucia Dingač. It is also the second blend of these two reds. It is matured partially in big wooden vats, partially in concrete, and partially in barriques, and is usually released after 24 months.
Vineyard Sv. AnteNevina
- Tasting notesThe Colour is very clear, straw yellow with golden nuances. Nevina is intensive and complex on the nose. The wine is characterized by citrus aromas such as lemon and lime, peach, and some tropical fruit such as pineapple. It is very mineral and fresh, with secondary aromas of honey and nuts, herbs, mint, and some white pepper. This medium-bodied wine is very creamy and of very pleasant acidity. The palate is dominated by citrus aromas, green apple, and peach. It has a very long-lasting finish with elderberry flower aromas in the aftertaste.
- Grape variety70% Malvazija Istriana, 30% Chardonnay
- AgeingThis wine is fermented in egg-shaped concrete vats, and in big wooden vats 32hl. It is aged for 6-9 months in concrete and wood vats, and 10% in French oak barriques. At the final blend, we distinguish Nevina from Mala, by trying to get the same balance
Vineyard Sv. AnteMala Nevina
- Tasting notesThe color is very clear, straw yellow with golden nuances. Mala Nevina is very intensive and complex on the nose. The wine is characterized by citrus aromas such as lemon and lime, peach and some tropical fruit such as pineapple. It is very mineral and fresh, with secondary aromas of honey and nuts, herbs, mint and some white pepper.
- Grape Variety72% Malvasia Istriana, 28% Chardonnay
- AgeingBarrels: 30% new French oak, 3 different cooperages, Period: 6 – 9 months
Vineyard Sv. AnteLe Chiffre
- Tasting notesClear golden colour. First nose is dominated by aromas of apples and pears, some peach and fig. Secondary aromas on the nose are lemon and lime citrus peel, followed by vanilla, butter and honey. Palate is complex and layered with aromas of ripe fruit, peaches, apricot, as well as vanilla, bread and butter andpie crust. Finnish is very long, with specific buttery aftertaste.
- Grape Variety100% Chardonnay
- AgeingFerments and ages in 100% new french oak barrique barrels. After 12-14 months in barrique it is sleeps in a bottle for 6 more months.
Vineyard Sv. LuciaPosh
- Tasting notesClear golden color. The first nose is dominated by aromas of fresh ripe apricot and mango. Secondary aromas on the nose are lemon and lime (even lemon zest), honey, and dry figs. The palate is complex and layered with aromas of ripe fruit, peaches, apricot, and some pineapple. Finnish is very long, with a specific bitter-sweet aftertaste.
- Grape variety100% Pošip
- AgeingPošip is a specific indigenous variety, very aromatic and does not profit from ‘spicing up’. It is fermented and matured in big concrete tanks for 6 months to preserve its freshness, and allow it to develop its own specific aromas.
Vineyard Sv. AnteFrenchie
- Tasting notesClear light yellow color. The first nose is dominated by sauvignon aromas like tropical fruit, pineapple, and mango. Secondary aromas on the nose are lemon and lime, as well as some honey notes from Semillon. Palate is fresh and layered with aromas of ripe fruit, peaches, apricot and pineapple. Finnish is very long, with a specific citrusy aftertaste.
- Grape varietySauvignon Blanc & Semillon
- AgeingThese two French varieties are very well adapted to our Istrian vineyard and give great results in given conditions. They like cool nights and good northern winds in Radovani, as well as sunny summer for balanced ripening. After being hand-picked and double sorted on sorting table, they ferment and age in concrete vats separately, and are blended into Frenchie wine before bottling.
Vineyard Sv. LuciaSt. Heels
- Tasting notesIt is a complex rose of a clear pale pink color, dominated by aromas of elderflower and red roses, as well as strawberry and basil notes. Medium-bodied, with a fruity middle palate and a long peachy finish. Very fresh and harmonious.
- Grape Variety100% Plavac mali
- AgeingBarrels: 100% concrete tanks, Period: 6 months
Saints HillsThe Vineyards
When visiting the peninsula of Pelješac, this miraculously preserved wonder of Mediterranean nature and culture, you can easily get the feeling that someone placed you into the scene of an old movie Maybe the clocks were stopped here, somewhere in the times without smartphones and constant rush. It is just what your soul needed.
IntroducingThe Indigenous Varietals
Plavac mali
Plavac Mali is the most significant and the most planted indigenous Croatian red variety. Our reds are all Plavac wines. Itis characterized by small yields, dark color, and specific aromas of red fruit and plum. It gives the best results if grown on the southern slopes by the sea like Dingač, Postup, or similar positions.
Itis one of the symbols of Dalmatia, who wouldn’t be complete without it.
Malvasia Istrana
Its the most planted Istrian variety which, besides its name, hasn’t got much in common with other Mediterranean Malvasias. For example, it gives the best results when made as a dry wine, whether fresh or matured. It usually gives medium yields, and it asks for a lot of vineyard work. DNA analysis established it truly is an Istrian indigenous variety, rather than a descendant of some other Malvasia. We plant it on hillsides of western Istria, limit its yields, and mature it, to get the best of this beautiful vine.
Posip
Pošip is another symbol of Dalmatia, we would even say an often underestimated white variety autochthonous to the Island of Korcula. Its authenticity is not questionable, since, until about 15 years ago, there was not even one place in the world, but Korcula, where this vine could have been found. These days, there are some other places in Dalmatia where it is grown. Our Pošip comes from its birthplace, one of the two best positions to grow it, the little village of Čara in the south of Korčula.
WinemakerOur family
The two millennial histories of wine are a symbolic mainstay of the Mediterranean. Another, not only symbolic but vital, is family. In the stone and under the sun, life has not been easy for our ancestors, but wine has given them life, a chance for education, opportunities, and has kept families together. These two things combined, wine and family, have inspired us to name our vineyards after our children: Lucia, Ante, and Roko. Our youngest, Lorena is looking after our olives. Deep in the stony ground lie the roots of our love for life, our family, as well as for our wine.
It's all about sun, sea, stone and really hard work. Ernest Tolj
TASTE & EXPERIENCEVinaria
“Vinaria”, what we call our Saints Hills winery, is an old stone house in a little village of Oskorušno. This house used to be a winery, but its owners went on a quest for a better life over the ocean, leaving their winery to sleep for 80 years. We believe it was waiting for us to breathe in a new life for her, so we decided to leave the old stones untouched. They withhold the story of tradition. The modern part of the story is, however, for the guest yet to discover.
TASTE & EXPERIENCECantina
Surrounded by fairy-tale vineyards and olive trees, in the middle of the Istrian forest, the new winery is the embodiment of an idyll, almost unimaginable nowadays, and ultimately represents what we would call the ultimate luxury. Beautiful nature, peace, local gastronomy and excellent wine.
