Tonči Marijan: Hvar Winemaking at Its Finest

Deep within the stone walls of a former lavender factory in Pitve, some of the most evocative verses dedicated to wine, and specifically the noble Plavac Mali, are being written. For winemaker Tonči Marijan, this dedication has translated into what can only be described as the NBA of winemaking.

Marijan made history in 2019 when his 2012 Vron Bod captured a gold medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards in the premium category for wines priced above 50 pounds. This milestone achievement was a watershed moment, effectively elevating Dalmatia most significant red variety to the ranks of relevant, world class wines.

The testament to this exceptional quality was reaffirmed in 2026 when his Plavac Plaža earned the prestigious Best in Show title, securing its place among the 50 best wines in the world. From the quiet hills of Pitve to the pinnacle of international acclaim, Marijan has proven that with passion and precision, Plavac Mali rightfully belongs at the very top of the global wine map.

After a prominent career as the director of major regional producers like Badel and Dalmacijavino, Tonči Marijan has found his personal paradise on Hvar where he now focuses on boutique and artisanal wine production. His approach is truly unique, with some labels produced in limited editions of only a few hundred bottles.

His current portfolio consists of 16 labels, including local treasures like Bogdanuša, Pošip, and Grk, as well as a rare Prošek made from dried grapes. He crafts this liquid gold following the historic recipe of the poet Petar Hektorović. However, his deepest passion remains the Plavac Mali variety, which he approaches with the precision of a master jeweler, refining each vintage until it becomes a masterpiece known as Vron Bod.

Grande plavac mali

AFTER YEARS IN MANAGEMENT, YOU HAVE EMBARKED ON A NEW JOURNEY AS A WINEMAKER.
My native island is a fantastic place, the most beautiful place in the world for working and living equally – and more importantly, it holds a lot of potential for winemaking. That knowledge guided me on my journey as I embarked on a solo career. My years with Badel and Dalmacijavino were very successful, but I simply wanted a change – and founded a winery. I did have plenty of experience in this industry, but I still had to start anew, build my reputation on a different stage – making unique, drastically different wines that elicit passionate reactions. Now, after fifteen years, I can say I have also build myself a base of clients who enjoy my winemaking style.

YOUR WINEMAKING STYLE ALSO INCLUDES CLEAR VOLUME LABELING FOR VRON BROD.
You know what they say: wine is supposed to get you drunk on feelings, not volume. If a wine is finelly balances, well rounded and there are no elements dominating over others, then you’ve created a good wine. In my opinion, that is the most desirable feature of plavac mali, a variety equally good for making merlot, cabernet sauvingon or amarone. I believe we are yet to use the variety to its full potential.

VRON BOD IS YOUR GRAND CRU LOCATION.
Crna punta, as we call it locally, or Vron Bod, is a location on the southern shore of the island, a micro-location if you will, just outside Ivan Dolac. This is the prime location for cultivation of plavac mali, as the grapes there enjoy plenty of sunshine, but also the influence of the sea and the stone that surround them. This terroir is of extreme importance in the making of Vron Bod. Annually, we make roughly 1.200 bottles from that location.

Where is Tonči Marijan winery?

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM A GOOD WINE?
I am a perfectionst, and expect wines to be perfect. My Italian mentor, the man who probably had the most influence on me as a winemaker, has said to me many times, Wine is easy to make. All you have to do is bottle all the flavors and aromas the nature has created. That really sounds easy, doesn’t it? Ideas are born from passion, but you have to learn how to understand wine, to hear what it’s telling you. That is the only way to creating perfect wine.

YOU HAVE BEGUN PRODUCTION OF BOGDANUŠA.
Bogdanuša is another variety that has been forgotten for too long, but possesses elegance and sophistication necessary for refreshing summer wines. I have purchased amphorae to age it, as I believe this variety will benefit greatly from maceration. I like to say I’m working on bogdanuša 3.0.

YOUR WINERY IN PITVE OFFERS WINE-TASTING AND SLOW FOOD.
Telling my story takes a bit of time, and I believe cooking is the ideal format, so to speak, for my visitors to get to know me, through our mutual love of food and wine. Naturally, these gastronomic creations are ideally paired with my wines.