Croatina

Croatina is a red wine grape variety found in several areas of central northern Italy, namely eastern Piedmont, southern Lombardy and western Emilia-Romagna. It is sometimes known by its synonym Bonarda, a nickname it shares with Uva Rara and Bonarda Piedmontese, a near-extinct aromatic variety from the hills of Piedmont.

Croatina, as the name implies, originated in Croatia, most likely in the coastal Primorska Hrvatska region, which also gave the world both Primitivo and its American version, Zinfandel. The overland journey from Croatia (through Slovenia) to northern Italy is relatively short, although it is equally possible that the vines were originally brought across the Adriatic Sea, arriving first in Venice or Ravenna.

Synonyms include: Bonarda.

Food matches for Croatina include:

• Pappardelle pasta with a rabbit and porcini mushroom ragu
• Sticky barbecued pork ribs
• Lamb-stuffed zucchini (koosa bil ablama)