Istria is magical and unique – beautiful landscapes, pleasant climate, and lovely people. Whether you have long fallen in love with Istria or are just planning to discover it, we have prepared a list of some of the best Istrian wineries that will take you on a wonderful enological journey. So, let’s get started!
Clai Winery – Istrian Hinterland
Located in the village of Brajki, near the town of Krasica in the Istrian hinterland, Clai Winery stands out. The vineyard’s specific position, spanning 10 hectares with plenty of sun and the cool, salty breeze from the Adriatic Sea, combined with limestone-rich soil, creates a distinctive quality of Clai wines. The foundation of this winery is the Terroir grape variety, which is continuously perfected. This winery also produces olive oil, with olive groves covering 5 ha of land, and you can enjoy numerous tasting programs of wine, olive oil, olives, as well as Istrian sausages and other local delicacies!
Cattunar Winery – Northern Istria, Brtonigla
Nestled near Brtonigla, in a newly built wine cellar, is the Cattunar Winery. This family has cultivated a love for wine and winemaking for generations, with a vineyard that spans 56 hectares. This is the largest private vineyard in Istria. Here, you can enjoy tasting indigenous varieties such as Istrian Malvasia, Teran, White Muscat, and Muscat Rose, among others. Like other wineries, you can also savor tastings of indigenous Istrian wine varieties and local specialties!
Benvenuti Winery – Kaldir, Central Istria
Motovun is intertwined with interesting legends and stories, and enjoying a view of Motovun with a glass of premium wine is something you don’t want to miss. This is possible from the peaceful Istrian village of Kaldir, from the Benvenuti Winery, where vineyards grow three indigenous varieties: Istrian Malvasia, Teran, and Muscat. When you visit Benvenuti Winery, you will be able to tour the cellars with expert guidance and wine tasting, as well as try finger food made from local products.
Kozlović Winery – Northern Istria, Momjan
The modern Kozlović Winery is located in Momjan, creating exceptional wines for generations, cherishing the expression and character of indigenous Istrian varieties, and continuously improving production processes and knowledge. The winery features multifunctional spaces for wine presentation and holding wine workshops, as well as elegant wine shops with a tasting bar. Of course, there is also a glazed terrace outside, offering a beautiful view of the vineyards.
Meneghetti Stancija – Bale
If you want to enjoy a luxurious offer of wines and a top-notch restaurant, then you must definitely visit Meneghetti Stancija. Located near the picturesque town of Bale, this place has been producing award-winning premium wines for years.
Matošević Winery – Northern Istria, Grimaldi; Tasting Room near Lim Bay
The vineyards of Matošević Winery are located around Buje and near Grimaldi, notable for being young vineyards. They are special for surprising with their complexity of flavors in each vintage. You can taste the wines of this young vineyard in the cellar in Krunčići above Lim Bay.
Belaj Castle – Boljun, Central Istria
If you want to try something completely new, beneath the mighty Učka mountain, then Belaj Castle is what you’re looking for. The history of this castle is inseparably linked to winemaking, and about a decade ago, the Belaj family started producing wine exclusively from grapes grown in the surrounding historical vineyard.
Kabola Winery – Northern Istria, Momjan
If you want to enjoy premium wines and the beauty of the winery itself, then you must visit Kabola Winery. Besides producing about 100,000 bottles of wine with an organic certificate on 20 hectares of land annually, this winery has also been recognized by producers from the film industry for its special beauty. When you visit, you will be able to learn about special processes of organic production and long maceration in oak barrels and amphorae in the company of sommeliers. Like many other wineries, Kabola also produces its own olive oil, which you can taste on tasting tours, along with delicious prosciutto, cheese, and desserts.
