Dingač Vineyards

Dingač is a wine-growing area on the Pelješac peninsula in southern Dalmatia, Croatia, on the south-west-facing slopes of the Zabrada mountains between Trstenik and Podobuče.

The grape grown is the indigenous Croatian red variety Plavac mali. The vines stand on slopes of about 45 degrees, from sea level up to roughly 300 m. With around 2,800 hours of sunshine a year the climate is considered ideal for red wine. In 1961 Dingač became Croatia's first protected wine-growing area.

A special feature is the single-lane tunnel near Potomje, about 400 m long. Winemakers financed it so the grapes could be carried directly; before that, donkeys and mules hauled the loads over a pass. Sources give the year of construction as 1973 or 1975. Traffic runs in one direction at a time, so check for oncoming vehicles before entering. For the drive from Ston to Orebić, Lonely Planet suggests an hour or more, especially with wine tastings; well-known wineries include Grgić Vina, Korta Katarina and Matuško.