Škaulj is a Dalmatian winery with an organic signature that grew slowly, without great fanfare, but with a clear vision. Its journey is in fact comparable to that of Nadin and Ravni Kotari themselves — a region long underrated in wine terms. Today Nadin has turned into a successful and recognisable winegrowing area, and one of the leading protagonists of that success is undoubtedly the Škaulj family.
The Škaulj family recognised the potential of organic production early on, because their vineyards lie on a very specific climatic and pedological site. Loamy-clay soils with plenty of sun and wind, together with wide temperature swings between day and night, favour grapes that build high sugars and extract while retaining precious acidity. Across 20 hectares they have planted 100,000 vines, part of them given over to indigenous varieties — Plavina, Crljenak (Tribidrag) and Maraština — while the rest are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Chardonnay, which have settled in superbly. Special mention must go to the Bordeaux varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, which in this area deliver exceptional results — very likely the best in Croatia — from which the Škaulj family consistently produces excellent wines that rank at the very top of Croatian winemaking.
Their red blends, and their single-varietal Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah, are wines with poise and character: full-bodied, high in alcohol, with a powerful tannic structure and layered aromatics, yet still elegant enough to drink easily and remember long. The most impressive wine is surely the Carl Gustav Private Selection cuvée, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot that always ages for 8–10 years. It should be stressed that all the wines are released only when they are fully ready, and there is never any compromise on that. In a somewhat simpler style comes the Tomislav cuvée, available in 0.75 l and 1 l bottles, which has become extremely popular thanks to its consistent quality.
Among the whites are Maraština, Chardonnay and the Škaulj cuvée which, like Tomislav, is present in many restaurants as a house wine, offering excellent value for money.
The rosé is serious and structured, yet fresh enough to be served as an aperitif as well as an accompaniment to many dishes.
Atypically for the terroir, but very successfully, the Škaulj family also produces the sparkling wine Nud, made from Crljenak by the traditional method.
In organic production the family also keeps 120 olive trees and 370 fig trees, and at their restaurant within the winery it is possible to taste all their products — so if you are nearby, just about 15 minutes from the motorway (the Zadar exit), it is worth stopping by. The hosts’ warmth and the quality of the offering will not leave you indifferent.
