Istria and Kvarner
The northernmost coastal regions of Croatia are Istria and Kvarner, these two regions together form one wine region. The special climate of this region, where the cold from the Alps meets the Mediterranean heat, makes it possible to harvest the grapes late in the year. This late harvest allows for slow ripening of the grapes, so the wines retain their acidity and fruity aromas.
Not only the climate but also the soil plays an important role. In the Istrian region there are three different types of soil, also called red Istria, gray Istria and white Istria. The terracotta-colored soil is full of iron and is ideal for growing red grape varieties such as Teran and Merlot. The white and gray soil consists mainly of limestone rich in minerals, ideal for growing white grape varieties such as the famous Malvazija Istarska.
Besides Istria, the Kvarner region also belongs to this wine region. In this region, mainly around Vrbnik on the island of Krk, the indigenous white grape variety Žlahtina can be found. This centuries-old grape variety got its name from the old Slavic word žlahtno, which means noble. In fact, it is one of the oldest indigenous grape varieties of Croatia and was always much loved by the Croatian nobility.
Some of the wines from this region that you should definitely try are the Malvazija Istarska from winery Kozlović, but also the Gran Teran 2016 from winery Coronica is really a must!
Istria and Kvarner
The northernmost coastal regions of Croatia are Istria and Kvarner, these two regions together form one wine region. The special climate of this region, where the cold from the Alps meets the Mediterranean heat, makes it possible to harvest the grapes late in the year. This late harvest allows for slow ripening of the grapes, so the wines retain their acidity and fruity aromas.
Not only the climate but also the soil plays an important role. In the Istrian region there are three different types of soil, also called red Istria, gray Istria and white Istria. The terracotta-colored soil is full of iron and is ideal for growing red grape varieties such as Teran and Merlot. The white and gray soil consists mainly of limestone rich in minerals, ideal for growing white grape varieties such as the famous Malvazija Istarska.
Besides Istria, the Kvarner region also belongs to this wine region. In this region, mainly around Vrbnik on the island of Krk, the indigenous white grape variety Žlahtina can be found. This centuries-old grape variety got its name from the old Slavic word žlahtno, which means noble. In fact, it is one of the oldest indigenous grape varieties of Croatia and was always much loved by the Croatian nobility.
Some of the wines from this region that you should definitely try are the Malvazija Istarska from winery Kozlović, but also the Gran Teran 2016 from winery Coronica is really a must!
