The Croatina vine has certain origins that date back only to the second half of the 19th century, but traces of it can be found in the Versa Valley, in the Roverscala area, in Oltrepò Pavese, since the Middle Ages. Croatina then spread also to Veneto and Sardinia, but it remains substantially a variety mostly from the Oltrepò Pavese and Novarese and Vercellese areas.

In Piedmont it can also be found in the Cuneo area (in particular in the Roero area, still under the name of Bonarda) and in the Alessandria area, especially on the Tortonesi Hills. In Emilia-Romagna the cultivation of Croatina is concentrated in the Piacenza area, where the Colli Piacentini Bonarda DOC typology sees it vinified in purity, while in the Colli Piacentini Gutturnio DOC it is together with Barbera.

From an ampelographic point of view, Croatina has a generally large, conical, winged, elongated and medium compact bunch. The berry is medium, spherical or spheroidal in shape, regular, with a thick, firm, pruinose skin, light blue in colour.

Vinified in purity, Croatina gives a sweet, fruity and floral wine, with good alcohol content and a dry, full-bodied and not very acidic flavour. It is often vinified in combination with other varieties, such as in Piedmont, Bonarda and Vespolina and in Oltrepò Pavese Barbera and Uva Rara to which Croatina adds colour and softness.