Gemišt

Name: Gemišt (Croatian White Wine Spritzer)
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 1
Cuisine: Croatia
Ingredients: 120 ml (4 fl oz) dry white wine; 120 ml (4 fl oz) sparkling mineral water; 4 g (about 4 ice cubes) ice cubes; 2 slice (2 slices) lemon

Also known as gemišt, gemist, Croatian wine spritzer

📍 Coastal Croatia — Istria, Kvarner, Dalmatia; inland Zagreb cafés ★ 4.5

Last updated Aug 24, 2026 · Reviewed by the WhatWhereVacay editorial team

Croatia\u0027s everyday wine spritzer: dry white topped with sparkling mineral water and ice, drunk on seaside terraces and Zagreb kafićs.

About Gemišt

Gemišt is the everyday Croatian answer to a long afternoon: a glass of dry white wine — usually a local Malvazija, Graševina or Pošip — topped with sparkling mineral water in roughly equal measure, served over ice with a slice of lemon. The proportions are negotiable, the weather sets the ratio, and the drink turns up at seaside konobas from Istria down through Dalmatia as readily as it does at Zagreb\u0027s kafić terraces. Gemišt is the lower-alcohol cousin of bevanda, and on hot summer days it functions almost as a meal-break ritual for office workers, a way to stretch a single bottle of wine across an outdoor table. Quality lives in the water: a domestic mineral such as Jamnica gives crispness and salt balance that tap water simply does not. The drink pairs naturally with grilled fish, octopus salad, or a plate of šurlice with prawns. Gemišt is also the standard pour at family christenings and small village weddings, where it signals hospitality without the weight of rakija.

🏛️ History & Culture

Gemišt, also known as gemist, is a Croatian wine spritzer whose name derives from the German "gemischt" (mixed), reflecting its likely emergence during the Austro-Hungarian era when diluted wine was common. Its exact origins are not precisely documented, but it is widely accepted as a practical way to make wine last longer in warm weather. Regional variations abound: in Slavonia, it is typically made with Graševina; in Istria, with Malvazija; and in Dalmatia, with Pošip. The proportion of wine to sparkling water often varies—some prefer a stronger pour, others nearly equal—but it is always served cold, often over ice.

Culturally, gemišt is a staple of casual Croatian social life, especially during long afternoons at local konobe (taverns) or family gatherings. Its low alcohol content and refreshing effervescence make it ideal for extended conversations, summer heat, and shared meals. Unlike formal wine tasting, gemišt is unpretentious and practical, embodying a relaxed, convivial attitude toward drinking. It is so embedded in everyday culture that for many, it is less a cocktail and more a standard way to enjoy Croatia’s white wines.

🍳 How to make Gemišt

AI-assisted, not kitchen-tested

Gemišt (Croatian White Wine Spritzer)

The quintessential Croatian summer drink: a refreshing, low-alcohol mix of dry white wine and sparkling mineral water over ice with lemon. Simple, balanced, and built for a long afternoon on a sunlit terrace.

Prep: 5 min
Total: 5 min
Serves: 1
Difficulty: Easy

Recipe ingredients

120 ml (4 fl oz) dry white wine, Croatian Malvazija, Graševina or Pošip preferred; any crisp dry white works. Imported bottle note: Croatian Malvazija from Istria gives the most authentic mineral-herbal snap.
120 ml (4 fl oz) sparkling mineral water, Cold, well-carbonated; Croatian brands such as Jamnica or Studena are traditional. Imported bottle note: substitute any strongly carbonated domestic mineral water (e.g. San Pellegrino) — do not use plain soda water or flat tap water, as the dissolved minerals carry the drink.
4 g (about 4 ice cubes) ice cubes, Large cubes melt slower and don't over-dilute the glass.
2 slice (2 slices) lemon, Unwaxed; 1 placed in the glass and 1 to garnish.

Steps

1 Chill the wine and sparkling mineral water well in advance (target 4–6 °C / 39–43 °F). Cold components are essential — a gemišt served lukewarm is not gemišt.
2 Fill a stemmed wine glass (or tall tumbler) with the ice cubes, leaving about 1.5 cm / ½ inch of space at the rim.
3 Pour the dry white wine over the ice, filling the glass roughly halfway (about 120 ml / 4 fl oz). In hot weather go a little lighter on the wine; on cooler evenings pour a bit more.
4 Top with the sparkling mineral water (about 120 ml / 4 fl oz), pouring gently down the inside of the glass to preserve the fizz.
5 Add one lemon slice into the glass and squeeze the second lightly over the top before placing it on the rim.
6 Do not stir aggressively; one gentle turn is enough. Serve immediately while the bubbles are still lively and the glass is frosty cold.

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🧺 Key ingredients

dry white wine
sparkling mineral water
ice
lemon slice

🍴 Where to eat it

Order it at any coastal konoba in Dalmatia or Istria, and at terrace cafés along Zagreb\u0027s Tkalčićeva and Ilica streets. The classic pour is half wine, half well-chilled sparkling mineral water (Jamnica preferred).

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