Winery Bibich

Adress: PLASTOVO, 22222 Skradin, Croatia
Country: Croatia
internet:
Wine district: none
wines

The Bibich Winery is located in Skradin, 5 miles east of the idyllic port city of Šibenik along Croatia's island speckled coast. Across the Adriatic from Italy it is roughly in line with the wine hills of Tuscany. It is similarly sunny but more Mediterranean. The vineyards of Northern Dalmatia are clearly defined by the primitive looking rock pile/walls that are a necessary result of clearing the fields for vines. Though a fairly lush region it is basically solid limestone, its soils just smaller rocks. This picturesque part of Croatia is an ethnically mixed area, comprised of both Croatians and Serbs. It was one of the most violent during the Yugoslav wars of the early 90's. 
   
  Out of these wars came the entrepreneuring Alen Bibić. In 1995, at the mere age of 22, having picked up winemaking from his grandfather, he set himself to reestablishing his family cellar and vineyards under the original spelling of his sur name, BIBICh. His dream was to see the unique wines of his homeland celebrated internationally. Not an easy task, when the first job is to clear the fields of land mines in order to replant. Today he exports internationally, does booming local business and has even established a wine bar in the town of Skradin with his good friend Ante appropriately called 'Alante'. 
   
  His production has and will remain focused on autochthonous varieties, the red Babich, Plavina and Lasin, all directly related to California's beloved Zinfandel and the local white grapes, Debit, Maraština and Pošip. However, Alen's international aspirations led him to Rhone varieties as candidates for the region as well. Mediterranean weather, rocky hills...his Grenache and Syrah vines are a natural fit and among the best international variety wines produced in Croatia today. Bibić sources fruit from both his own vineyards which are farmed organically and those of his neighbors. He has pushed them to also adopt these techniques and so is helping to improve the health of the region as a whole. 
   
  Like their mid Italian neighbors, the wines of Northern Dalmatia have both warmth and freshness. When sommeliers taste the Bibich wines they often compare them to the white and red wines of Tuscany. The full line of wines from the mineral fresh Debit, to the classic local red blend R6 Riserva to his signature Rhone-ish Grenache are fermented with native yeast. With the exception of the fresh Debit they are barrel aged. Bibich wines are uniformly moderate in alcohol. Alen's wine making emphasizes textural quality and savory rather than fruity character in the wine. This makes them quite food friendly. They're deep, complex, smooth, earthy, and well, just delicious. Interestingly he ages his zinfandel relative blend R6 Riserva in new American oak. Perhaps surprisingly, it beautifully frames this local blend, as in Rioja, and adds to the international flair of Bibich. Similarly the oxidative white blend R5 is too aged in American Oak and in a style that smacks of Rioja, but at a fraction of the price of similarly quality wines. 
   
  Bibich is the product of a long history of regional wine making, multiple cultures, political turmoil, industriousness and dreams and part of the fabric of modern Croatian wine. Its proprietor is aware of what he and his home have to offer the world and is eager to engage in a global dialogue that brings us all a little closer. We will certainly see more from the already accomplished and still young Alen Bibić.