The mix of influences from the continental climate of the interior and the mild Mediterranean climate with the warm Adriatic Sea create conditions for the cultivation of various types of red and white wines, ranging from dry and semi-dry to sweet.
Istria is the home of the world-famous red variety Teran and Istrian Malvasia, while on the Kvarner region, the native white variety Žlahtina dominates, especially on the island of Krk, which has become synonymous with this grape variety.
In addition to native varieties, in Istria, you can also find many international varieties such as Muscat, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, and Pinot Blanc among whites, and Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay (Burgundy), and Pinot Noir among reds. Moreover, this region is characterized by different types of soil, which provide conditions for making wines of the same varieties with different characteristics.
Istria is the flagship of Croatian tourism, and for this reason, many Istrian wine producers find it easier to reach wine lovers who come from other parts of Croatia, especially from abroad, contributing to the easier building of international reputation for Istrian wines. Wines from Istria have also won many prestigious international wine awards, including platinum medals from the London Decanter.
Classification of Wines from Istria and Kvarner
The wine regions of Istria and Kvarner follow standardized wine classification like other wine regions in Croatia, which are Table Wine, Quality Wine, and Premium Wine.
Table wine is usually the basic and cheapest version that comes out of the winery. This classification can be compared, for example, to Landwein in Germany or Vino de la Tierra in Spain. Table wine adheres to the lowest minimum criteria and is typically made with less quality grapes intended for mass production and consumption. Despite this fact, there are also some excellent wines sold under this classification for specific reasons, although this is more common in the Dalmatian wine region than in Istria and Kvarner.
Quality wine is probably the most common wine classification found in Croatian stores. An excellent balance of good quality and reasonable prices makes Quality wines a very popular choice.
Premium wine is a classification for wines from the best (Grand Cru) positions of a particular region that provide conditions for the production of wines of exceptional quality. In Istria, such wines usually cost from €10 upwards, but the quality you get when buying these wines is unparalleled, and you will certainly get value for your money, as they meet a range of chemical, administrative, and sensory criteria that guarantee quality.
Wine Subregions of Istria and Kvarner
The wine region of Istria and Kvarner can certainly be divided into two subregions, namely the Croatian part of the Istrian peninsula and Kvarner with its associated islands.
The history of grapevines in both of these subregions is long, dating back to the beginnings of human civilization in this area. For example, in Kvarner, we can find a town called Novi Vinodolski, which translates to “new wine valley,” while in Istria, near the city of Pula, there is a cove called Kalavojna, and one theory about its name leads to Greek words meaning good wine, which are (Gr. καλός: good, and οίνος: wine).
In the seabed of Istria and Kvarner, remnants of amphorae could often be found on sunken galleys destined for wine trade throughout the history of the Mediterranean.
The Istrian Peninsula
The Istrian Peninsula is unique due to the fact that on a relatively small area, we can find several different types of soil. In the southern and western parts of the peninsula, we often find red soil, known as “Red Istria,” which transitions into “Grey Istria” as it rises on the flysch slopes in central Istria. In the northeastern part of the peninsula, we encounter the so-called “White Istria” in mountainous areas or slopes of Učka, especially in the eastern part of Istria. Similarly to the diversity of soil, Istria also boasts various climatic conditions, ranging from warm Mediterranean coastal areas to moderately continental climates inland. The most renowned vineyards on the peninsula are around the towns of Buje, Umag, and Poreč in the west, and Pazin and Motovun in the central part.
The flagship of Istrian vineyards is the white Malvazija (Malvasia Istriana) grape variety, which has only started to shine fully in the last ten to fifteen years with the arrival of new generations of winemakers, primarily through reducing yields per vine and implementing new technologies. Malvazija produces wines with distinctive varietal aromas, often high freshness, and minerality.
Among red wines, the most important variety is Teran. Teran is also a type of grapevine that yields high grape yields with considerable acidity. It is through careful yield reduction that more attractive and fuller versions of this wine are obtained, usually with medium body, rich fruit aromas from the black spectrum such as cherry, black currant, and moderate tannins. Also, since August 2021, Muškat Mojmanski became the 18th Croatian protected wine in the European Union under the name Muškat Mojmanski/Moscato di Momiano. The name comes from a combination of the name of the Muscat variety that has been cultivated in that area since ancient times, named after the village of Momjan located in the northwest part of the Istrian peninsula.
Istria, due to its quality tourism offer, which is based, among other things, on wine and gastronomy tourism, is intertwined with wine roads leading to numerous Istrian wineries that offer exceptional wines and a rich selection of traditional dishes made from local ingredients.
