The red grape variety originates from Croatia. The name means "little blue one" (Mali = little one, Plavac = blue one). There are over 60 synonyms, which indicates its great age. The most important, grouped by country, are Plavatz Petit Noir (France); Babić, Crljenak, Kaštelanski, Kasteljanac, Kastelka, Kusmanic, Pagadebit, Pagadebit Crni, Pagadebit Mali, Pagadebit Pravi, Pagadebit Veliki, Pagadebit Zelenjak, Plavac Mali Crni, Plavac Mali Kastelanski, Plavac Srednji, Plavac Veliki, Plavac Zelenac, Rodulic, Sarac, Sarak, Viska, Zelenac, Zelenak (Croatia); Plavec Mal (North Macedonia).
It was first documented in 1841 as a "typical Dalmatian variety". According to DNA analyses carried out in 2003, it originates from a presumably natural cross between Primitivo (Tribidrag) x Dobričić (ex Wine Grapes; the VIVC catalogue contains no information about the parentage).
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