Krauthaker

The story

The First Krauthaker Hectare

In 1992, Vlado Krauthaker founded the winery with one hectare of land in Kutjevo. A hectare is a small vineyard holding, so the first act was modest in physical terms. The vineyard base expanded after that beginning. Vlado Krauthaker later received Croatia's Best Winemaker title twice and holds the title of Wine Knight. Krauthaker's present work covers vineyard management, wine production and a cellar range that reaches dried berry harvests.

The First Krauthaker Hectare

In 1992, Vlado Krauthaker founded the winery with one hectare of land in Kutjevo. A hectare is a small vineyard holding, so the first act was modest in physical terms. The vineyard base expanded after that beginning. Vlado Krauthaker later received Croatia's Best Winemaker title twice and holds the title of Wine Knight. Krauthaker's present work covers vineyard management, wine production and a cellar range that reaches dried berry harvests.

From the atlas

Krauthaker

Krauthaker is a Croatian producer based in Kutjevo, with Graševina rooted in mountain vineyards and sustainable cultivation.

At A Glance

The Producer

Vlado Krauthaker founded Krauthaker. The current Krauthaker website reports 54 hectares of vineyard area, annual production of 700,000 litres and exports to 19 countries.

The winery's current oenologist is Martina Krauthaker Grgić. Graševina anchors the regional story, while the range also includes Chardonnay Rosenberg and wines from the Mitrovac vineyard.

Place

Krauthaker is headquartered in Kutjevo, Croatia. Graševina is the most widespread grape in the region and a recognizable symbol of Kutjevo.

Mitrovac is a named vineyard whose microclimate and soil, rich in porous volcanic rock, give its Graševina depth and complexity. The vineyard name stays on the bottle and identifies a specific place within the wider Kutjevo setting.

Soil And Site

The vineyards lie on the southern slopes of Krndija and Papuk, between 200 and 400 metres above sea level. Sandy and loamy soils are often rocky and rich in minerals.

The climate combines continental and Pannonian influences, with annual precipitation between 500 and 800 millimetres. In general viticulture, higher sites can slow ripening and help white grapes retain acidity, while different soil textures change water availability around the vines.

Story

Martina Krauthaker Grgić leads the team responsible for vineyard management and wine production. She and her team rely on laboratory analysis and collaboration with scientific institutions for precise vineyard work and production planning.

The same technical approach covers both parts of the operation. Laboratory data informs vineyard management, while collaboration with scientific institutions supports the work that turns harvested grapes into wine.

Vineyards And Cellar

Krauthaker follows sustainable cultivation principles and plants between 7,000 and 10,000 vines per hectare. A weather station situated directly in a vineyard continuously monitors air and soil temperature, rainfall and sunshine. These measurements guide vineyard work and harvest planning.

The cellar nurtures and matures wines across regular, late harvest, dessert and selected dried berry harvest categories. The range therefore includes both standard wine styles and wines made from more concentrated fruit.

Wines

The range includes three white wines with different grape and site roles. Graševina IBPB is the 2019 wine from a selected harvest of dried berries. Chardonnay Rosenberg is a varietal Chardonnay from 2023. Graševina Mitrovac is Graševina from the named Mitrovac vineyard, with 2024 on the bottle.

The labels move from a single grape variety to a named vineyard and a selected dried berry harvest. Each bottle gives a different address or harvest category within the producer's white wine range.

In The Glass

Graševina Mitrovac is warm, rounded and harmonious, with full body, freshness and a mineral finish. The combination of body and freshness keeps the palate broad without losing its finishing lift.

Graševina IBPB brings pear, apricot, fig, date, honey and fine notes of noble rot. Noble rot is a beneficial mold that concentrates grapes and can deepen sweetness and flavour. The palate is dense, syrupy, creamy, rounded and warm, with salinity and acidity balancing the sweetness.

A Bottle To Understand It

Choose Chardonnay Rosenberg. It is the range's varietal Chardonnay bottle, giving the grape a separate place beside the two Graševina wines.

The aroma carries white stone fruit, citrus, vanilla, lemon zest, wood and smoke. The palate is lively, slightly sweet, creamy, rounded, warm and full bodied. The bottle offers a direct view of Krauthaker's Chardonnay work without relying on the named vineyard or dried berry harvest categories.

Anecdote

In 1992, Vlado Krauthaker founded the winery with one hectare of land in Kutjevo. A hectare is a small vineyard holding, so the first act was modest in physical terms. The vineyard base expanded after that beginning. Vlado Krauthaker later received Croatia's Best Winemaker title twice and holds the title of Wine Knight. Krauthaker's present work covers vineyard management, wine production and a cellar range that reaches dried berry harvests.

Final Word

Krauthaker brings together Kutjevo vineyards, Graševina, named site wines and harvest categories that extend from regular bottles to dried berry wines. Mitrovac gives the range a vineyard address, while IBPB gives it concentrated sweetness.

Sources

1. https://www.krauthaker.hr/en/ 2. https://krauthaker.hr/en/about-us/ 3. https://krauthaker.hr/en/terroir-en/ 4. https://croatian.wine/winaries/krauthaker-winery/ 5. https://www.vinumusa.com/wineries/krauthaker 6. https://krauthaker.hr/en/vina/krauthaker-chardonnay-rosenberg/ 7. https://krauthaker.hr/en/vina/krauthaker-grasevina-mitrovac/ 8. https://krauthaker.hr/vina/grasevina-izborna-berba-prosusenih-bobica/