This is what good wine from the Crljenak grape tastes like

Crljenka is an ancient Croatian grape variety. It grows on the Dalmatian coast and the islands of the Adriatic Sea. Generally, Crljenka produces robust, fruity, and warm wines that can be quite tannic.

Don't be embarrassed if Crljenak doesn't ring a bell. You probably know it, though. It's the same grape as the Primitivo from Puglia and the Zinfandel from the United States.

It was long assumed that Plavac Mali was the ancestor of the Zinfandel, revered across the pond. That the grape originated in Croatia proved correct. But extensive research revealed a different grape. Plavac Mali is the result of a cross between Crljenak and an unknown grape. And so, Crljenak also turns out to be the father or mother of Vranec, another typical Balkan grape.