Agroclimatic Analysis of Croatian Wine-Growing Regions: Implications for Viticulture

This research project spanned two consecutive wine production years (2021 and 2022) and was conducted at 9 experimental vineyards across 6 wine-growing sub-regions in Croatia. The study focused on analyzing the uvometric characteristics of different grape cultivars and conducting basic chemical analyses on fresh grape samples. Data from meteorological stations were utilized to calculate agroclimatic indices such as mean air temperature, Growing degree-days (GDD), Huglin index (HI), and Cold Night Index (CI). The results highlighted an increase in these indices, indicating the need to reconsider the wine-growing zones in Croatia and potentially revise the regionalization of Croatian wine-growing areas. The rising air temperatures have made continental Croatia suitable for cultivating heat-demanding wine cultivars and may enable the cultivation of early grape cultivars in mountainous regions in the future. The project also involved physical and chemical analyses, determination of the aromatic profile of the wine, sensory evaluations, and statistical analysis. These findings aim to enhance the competitiveness of wine producers in both domestic and international markets.