Croatian vineyards face growing threat as grapevine disease spreads across 14 counties

(Illustration)

ZAGREB, 24, September 2026 – A grapevine disease known as flavescence dorée, or grapevine yellows, is causing growing problems for vineyards across Croatia, with wine producers in 14 counties affected, according to Croatian public broadcaster HRT.

The disease is transmitted by the American grapevine leafhopper, a small insect that can spread the infection from one vine to another.

Once a vine becomes infected, there is no direct treatment that can cure it. Infected vines therefore have to be removed to prevent the disease from spreading further.

The problem has become particularly visible in northern and north-western Croatia, including Hrvatsko Zagorje.

Winegrowers in the region have reported substantial losses as infected vines are removed.

One grower near Klanjec told HRT that he had been forced to remove around 10,000 infected vines.

The disease presents a particular challenge because its effects are permanent. Unlike damage caused by hail or drought, infected vines cannot simply recover when weather conditions improve.

According to figures cited by HRT, Croatia has lost 22.3% of its vineyard area since 2017.

The spread of the disease is also linked to abandoned and neglected vineyards, where the insect responsible for transmitting it can survive and spread into neighbouring cultivated areas.

Krapina-Zagorje County has introduced a programme providing free vine seedlings, with 25,000 new plants planned this year.

The Ministry of Agriculture has also allocated €800,000 through a current programme connected with measures to address the problem.

Another issue is the number of neglected vineyard plots.

The Ministry has collected information on around 3,700 such parcels covering approximately 570 hectares.

Officials are preparing additional measures that could allow local authorities to clear abandoned vineyard areas, which can act as breeding grounds for the insect.

A new Plant Health Act is also being prepared, according to the ministry.

The issue has wider significance for Croatia’s wine industry, which includes a large number of small family vineyards as well as established commercial producers.

The disease is not unique to Croatia and is a wider European viticultural concern. Its spread illustrates the challenges facing wine production as growers deal with pests, diseases, changing weather patterns and the fragmentation of agricultural land.