Blatina is a red wine grape variety found mostly in the Herzegovina region of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The variety has a functional female flower and is auto-sterile. Most wine grapevines are hermaphroditic with male flower stamens and female ovaries, and so can self-pollinate.
Therefore, Blatina must be planted with other varieties. Example of vineyard partners include Kambusa (Alicante Bouschet), Merlot and Trnjak. The latter is Blatina’s traditional blending companion. However in recent years varietal wines have become more common in both cases.
Wet weather can prevent the partner vines from inseminating Blatina, and so it fails to produce fruit. This is known as praznobacva which translates as “empty barrels”.
Wines from the variety can be aged either in stainless steel for freshness or in oak barrels for extra weight and complexity. They tend to be dark ruby red in color, and are often spicy with coffee notes, becoming more chocolatey with age.
Food pairings for Blatina wine include:
- Lamb stew
- Slow-cooked beef cheeks with rosemary
- Sogan Dolma (beef stuffed with onion)
