The Vujnović family name dates back to winemaking documents from the 18th and 19th centuries. 

The family has a long tradition of winemaking and is specialised in the growing and production of local Dalmatian grape varieties. The Vujnović name was first mentioned in the official list of inhabitants in Sućuraj in 1673. Most people would say that Sućuraj is famous for two things, the ferry crossing to the mainland and the Vujnović winery. The latter is located in a 15th century house near Fortica, a Venetian fortress built at the entrance to the Sućuraj port in 1613. As part of the house Juraj also operates his konoba, Guido, in the centre of Sućuraj town. At Guido, Juraj serves his own wine as well as local Dalmatian delicacies in addition to the town’s best pizza. The house even has a silver coin, dating back to 1441, embedded in the wall in an old traditional manner to bring good fortune.

How would you describe your winemaking style?  

Our style is to produce light wines from autochthonous Dalmatian grape varieties no matter if it is a red or white wine. 

What does Hvar mean to you?

To me Hvar is a way of living, easy Mediterranean, just being.

Do you host wine tastings at your winery? 

Yes, we host wine tastings in our Konoba, Guido, which is situated in the town of Sućuraj.

What is the grape variety that you most associate yourself with?

I definitely associate myself mostly with Prč because it's a grape variety from our town of Sućuraj. 

If you could only sell one of your wines, which one would it be and why?  

Again, Prč because Sućuraj has a long history with that grape variety. 

Please tell us the story about the Mrtinovik vineyard

The Mrtnovik vineyard is a dedication to all wine producers from Sućuraj, who historically have mostly produced wine from the grape Prč. The grape variety was almost extinct but my father and I revitalised it in cooperation with the Wine institute from Split. Back in the day, the village was full of it, but now we are the only ones to produce it in the area. Mrtnovik is the name of the bay situated below the vineyard on the south side of the island and originally the vineyard was called “above the Mrtinovik”. In the past, all of those bays on the south and the north side of the island near Sućuraj were planted with Prč.

Wine has been cultivated on the east part of the island of Hvar, also known as Plame, for centuries. So there is no coincidence “Plame” is also the name of Jura’s red wine from the grape variety Plavac Mali. The Vujnović family owns a number of vineyards, the largest being the Mrtinovik vineyard facing south-west with spectacular views towards the island of Korčula as well as the Pelješac peninsula. The slopes of the vineyard reach a height of 180 meters and no less than 24,000 vines are planted on the 4-hectare-large vineyard

The vineyard is perfectly protected by a mountain ridge from the heavy “bura” wind and has a soil made up of limestone that is clearly visible. You can even see ancient sea fossils visible in the stones covering the vineyard. In the vineyard that was planted in 2012, the family grows the local grape varieties Plavac mali, Pošip and Prč. However, Prč has a special place in Juraj’s heart as it is a grape variety with roots from Sućuraj.