The Istrian peninsula is an enchanting destination comprised of three countries in one: Croatia, Slovenia, and Italy. It juts into the northern Adriatic Sea between the Gulf of Trieste and the Kvarner Gulf and offers some of the best of all three countries: Roman history, Venetian flair, castles and traditional architecture, pretty ports and riviera towns, hilltop villages surrounded by vineyards producing admired wines, a mouth-watering variety of regional dishes, welcoming hospitality, and more - all with fewer crowds. Istria's adventures, cultural discoveries, and culinary delights await!
Article below produced by Virtuoso with the Istria Tourist Board from 10/16/2024 can found here.
The ancient Romans called Istria the terra magica, and it’s no surprise the nickname stuck. The triangle-shaped peninsula in northwest Croatia retains the power to enchant visitors – and has also become a haven for gourmet travelers keen to explore an under-the-radar wine region with distinctively Adriatic flavors. Dense oak forests and terraced hillsides produce a bounty spanning delicate extra virgin olive oils, black and white truffles, and vintages made from native grapes. For wine-loving visitors to Europe, moreover, the region offers deeply personal encounters with terroir.
Key to understanding the region’s wines is the endemic grape variety malvasia Istriana, grown here for centuries and renowned for both stylistic variability and fresh expression. But with vineyards that extend from hilltop vines to grapes with Adriatic Sea views, you’ll also find a diversity of flavor, unique twists, and local pours still little known outside the area.
Whether you’re planning a weekend-long, vineyard-hopping getaway or an extended immersion in Istrian food culture, your Virtuoso travel advisor can reserve a tasting, tour, or meal at Istria’s top 12 producers: Clai Wines, Coronica Wines, Degrassi, Kabola, Kozlovic Winery, Matosevic, Meneghetti, Radovan, Rossi, Roxanich, Saints Hills Cantina, and Tomaz Winery.
Given the compact region’s tightly woven geography, visiting these winemakers also offers travelers a chance to explore Istria’s ancient hilltop villages and medieval castles, and stroll at sunset in romantic ports along the Adriatic. Need to narrow it down? Here are three spectacular Istrian wineries to get you started, with a few gourmet stops to make between sips.
Meneghetti Wines
If the 58-room Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery exudes old-world elegance, it’s the sun-washed, country-estate variety. Vines drape terrace tables in dappled shade, while centuries-old cypress trees hint at the property’s ancient roots. During tastings overlooking hand-pruned vineyards and olive groves, guests at the sprawling resort can try a pour of sparkling Meneghetti classic brut or sip Meneghetti red, a blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon, and cabernet franc.
In this swath of farms and fields near Istria’s southwest coast, food-centered pilgrimages abound. Start by steering for the coast: A 20-minute drive from Meneghetti is the picturesque fishing village of Fazana, famed for sardines. Its cozy Tavern Feral showcases traditional Istrian cuisine and seafood in dishes such as shellfish stews and grilled scampi in a red or white sauce alongside teran, cabernet sauvignon, and merlot wines. Turning from the coast, just a few miles inland is Michelin-recommended tavern Alla Beccaccia which specializes in wood-fired game dishes such as grilled woodcock or wild boar.
Rossi Winery and Distillery
Commanding views of the Mirna River and the hilly landscape of Vizinada, family-owned Rossi Winery and Distillery crafts distinctively aromatic wines from fertile fields passed down since 1885. Pride of the vineyard is the malvazija Templara, which draws on the property’s oldest and best-situated vines – the wine’s golden hue telegraphs equally glowing notes of apple, apricot, and acacia flower.
Yet there’s more to the estate than wine: The Rossi family also runs a distillery, producing spirits that range from mistletoe-infused herbal brandy to a sweet-bitter, wormwood-rich digestif called Epulon. Ask your Virtuoso advisor to book tastings, which pair a wine flight with signature cocktails and local charcuterie as fifth-generation winemaking brothers Luka, Filip, and Marko share their family’s remarkable history.
Roxanich Winery
With a hillside perch outside the walls of medieval Motovun, Roxanich Winery crafts long-aged natural wines nurtured by the red-brown soils of Istria’s west coast. Its biodynamic growing practices use traditional methods and minimal intervention, setting the tone for this family-run winery obsessed with landscape and culture.
A curated lineup of 20 organic wines goes from darkly rich Bordeaux blends to summery, honeysuckle-scented rosés – each aged in a cellar set deep into the hillside. After a tasting, head to the estate’s restaurant for Istrian dishes such as vineyard-snail risotto, hand-rolled pasta with truffles, and steaks carved from heritage-breed Slavonian black pigs.
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