From Dalmatia with Love: Why Prošek Is the Next Sweet Wine You Must Try
Prošek is a traditional Croatian sweet wine, perfect for those who love intense, velvety, and complex passito-style wines. Ideal alongside desserts, blue cheeses, or as a meditation wine, every sip captures the sun and wind of Dalmatia. This Mediterranean gem surprises those seeking alternatives to famous Italian or French sweet wines.
Production area
Prošek hails from Dalmatia, along the Croatian Adriatic coast, using native grapes like Plavac Mali, Maraština, Bogdanuša, and Vugava, dried naturally to concentrate sugars and aromas. Production is concentrated on the islands of Hvar, Vis, and Korčula, where the warm, dry climate ensures exceptional natural drying.
The Basics
- Name: Prošek
- Origin: Croatia (Dalmatia)
- Type: Sweet wine from dried grapes
- Alcohol: 15–18%
- Formats: 500 ml (classic) or 750 ml
- Serving temperature: 12–14°C
Tasting profile
Prošek shines with an amber hue, intense aromas of honey, dried fruits, caramel, dates, and figs. On the palate, it’s sweet yet balanced, lifted by freshness and salinity, avoiding heaviness. The long finish offers notes of spices, candied citrus, and toasted hazelnuts.
How it’s made
Grapes are hand-harvested, dried on racks under the sun or in ventilated rooms, then gently pressed. The must ferments slowly and ages in small barrels or steel, depending on the producer’s style. This is a boutique, often artisanal wine, crafted with meticulous care and low yields.
Pairing suggestions
Prošek pairs wonderfully with zuppa inglese, chocolate salami, apple pie, strudel, or fig tart. For cheeses, try it with Paski sir, Blu di bufala, or spicy Gorgonzola — the sweet-salty contrast is divine.
Price range
Artisanal Prošek bottles typically start at €25–35, but top-tier labels from producers like Andro Tomić or Zlatan Otok can command €60–80, reflecting the painstaking craftsmanship and limited production.
Notable producers
- Andro Tomić: historic and elegant
- Zlatan Otok: refined and layered
- Vinarija Grgić: traditional and precise
- Bura-Mokalo: powerful and intense
- Caric Winery: fresh and modern
- Duboković: unique and artisanal
- Plenković: pure Hvar expression
History and curiosities
The name Prošek comes from the Latin prosectus (“cut, selected”), referring to the carefully chosen grapes for drying. There’s long been a trade dispute between Croatia and Italy over its similarity to “Prosecco” — though the two are entirely different: one is a sweet passito wine, the other a dry sparkling. Prošek has been part of Dalmatian culture for centuries, traditionally made in small batches for family celebrations and special moments.
