Istria
Mediterranean, with continental influence
A hill-town peninsula in the north Adriatic, known for fresh Malvazija Istarska, the red Teran and truffle-and-olive-oil dining.
Overview
About Istria
Istria is the heart-shaped peninsula at the head of the Adriatic, with Italy and Slovenia close by, and it is one of Croatia's best-known wine regions for visitors. Its main white grape is Malvazija Istarska, made in styles from fresh and mineral to oak-aged and skin-contact, and its main red is Teran, a tart, deeply coloured grape. Merlot and Muscat are also grown.
The landscape is often described in three colours: red Istria, where terra rossa soil covers the land, grey Istria, on marl and flysch, and white Istria, on limestone. Wine is one of the main reasons to visit, along with the hill towns of Motovun and Grožnjan, truffles and olive oil, and many wineries welcome visitors.
Istria is marked on the map.
Croatia
Shaded: Istarska. Map units are states, provinces or départements, so a smaller place appears as the larger area that contains it.
The land
Climate & terroir
Climate
Mediterranean, with continental influence
Warm and sunny in summer, with the Adriatic keeping the coast mild and cooler winds coming from the interior. Rain falls throughout the year, and the bora and jugo winds shape the weather.
Terroir & soils
What the vines grow in
Three main soil types: red terra rossa over limestone, grey flysch marl and white limestone. Malvazija tends to show more mineral edge on the marl and richer fruit on the red soil.
Go deeper
Rules, years & producers
Croatian wine is classified by geographical origin, and Istria is one of the four sub-regions of Croatia's coastal wine country.
Istra PDO
The protected designation for wine from the peninsula, usually labelled by grape.
What's grown here
Grapes
Each grape's page links back here.