Kratošija is a red grape that makes bright, fruit-forward wine. Think redcurrant, cherry and red berries, with a brambly, spicy, herbal edge. It is mouth-filling and easy to like. It is genetically identical to Zinfandel and Primitivo, so if you drink either, you already know where to start. Our Kratošija is made from this one grape and nothing else.
What it tastes like
Fruit comes first. Redcurrant and cherry lead, then a wash of red berries.
Behind the fruit there is something wilder. A brambly note, a little spice, a herbal lift. It keeps the wine from tasting simple.
In the mouth it feels full and generous. The fruit carries all the way through.
The same grape as Zinfandel and Primitivo
Kratošija, Zinfandel and Primitivo are genetically identical. DNA testing showed it. One vine, three names.
Its prime name is Tribidrag. It is also a parent of Plavac Mali, another red grape.
So the link is a matter of DNA, and you can taste the family resemblance in the ripe red fruit and the spice. What changes from bottle to bottle is where the vines grow and how the wine is made.
What to eat with it
This is a red for proper food. It likes richness and it likes a bit of smoke.
- Game and roast meats
- Pulled pork
- Moussaka
- Cabbage rolls
- Aubergine with ripe cheese
Serve it at 16 to 18°C, a touch below room temperature. It has a screwcap, so it is easy to open and easy to reseal.
Our Kratošija wines
Kratošija is the pure version. One hundred percent Kratošija, fruit-forward and bright. It is the easiest way to meet the grape on its own terms.
Barovo Red is a bigger wine. It is a field blend of Kratošija and Vranec, grown and picked together. Expect prune, sour cherry, blackberry, vanilla, chocolate and pepper, with anise and cinnamon. It is powerful, with a long, juicy finish. Drink it with lamb or prime rib.
If you want Kratošija alongside other wines, it sits in a few of our cases and sets:
- The Entry Pair puts Kratošija next to Smederevka, one red and one white.
- The Reds is a six-bottle case of reds for autumn and winter, Kratošija included.
- The Table, The Collector and The Single Vineyards each include Barovo Red.
You can see everything made with the grape in our Kratošija collection, or browse all our red wines.
Where Kratošija comes from
The earliest written mention of the grape is in the Statute of Budva, where it appears as Cratosia. Montenegro is the likeliest origin, though Croatia contests that.
Our Kratošija is a Tikveš wine, from a winery founded in 1885. The climate is a mix of Continental and Mediterranean, and mountains protect the region on three sides. The vines for our single-grape Kratošija grow on east and south-east facing slopes, in carbonate-rich clay, and the vineyard is green harvested.
Barovo Red grows somewhere quite different. Its vineyard sits on volcanic bedrock at the foot of the Kozuf range.
Same grape, two very different wines. Start with the Kratošija and see where it takes you.