In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons reconnects with Kit Pepper, a wine editor, educator, and founder of Cheers Croatia Magazine. Kit, who lives on the island that's a 50-minute ferry ride from the Dalmatian city of Split, returns to dive even deeper into Croatia’s long, complex relationship with wine. From the ancient Greeks and Romans to the shadow of communism and the wars of the 1990s, Kit shares how politics, geography, and culture shaped Croatian viniculture and how the industry is thriving today. The conversation also explores the rise of wine tourism, the stunning repurposing of historical spaces, like bomb shelters and military tunnels as tasting rooms, and the unique grapes and flavours you’ll only find in this part of the world. What You’ll Learn:

• Why Croatia’s wine culture is thousands of years older than most people think
• How communist rule and war nearly erased the industry and what revived it
• The story behind unique grapes like Plavac Mali, Pošip, and Graševina
• How tourism, history, and wine are deeply connected in Croatia
• What makes Croatian winemakers so innovative in preserving tradition while pushing boundaries

Katherine 'Kit' Pepper is a wine editor, educator, and founder of Cheers Croatia Magazine. A WSET Diploma holder and Certified Wine Educator, she spent years as a wine buyer and shop owner in New York before moving to Croatia. She now lives on the island of Brač, where she champions indigenous grapes and connects global wine lovers with the country’s vibrant wine scene. Planning a wine trip to Europe? This episode might convince you that Croatia belongs at the top of your list. You can reach Kit here: Cheers Croatia Magazine [email protected] HR: +385 091 212 0002 US: +1 212 518 8088 IG: @cheerscroatiamagazine   Listen now at www.winebehindthescenes.com