Malvasia, the absolute queen of the Istrian wine cellars

Istrian Malvasia is a white wine containing between 11.5 and 13.5% alcohol. Connoisseurs describe it as a full, rounded and harmonious wine with a great fruity and floral aromatic potential. Its specific aroma is reminiscent of the smell of acacia flowers, while the dominating fruit flavours are usually those of apple, plum and apricot. The ripe wine has a hint of bitter almond.

A must destination in Istria for all lovers of Malvasia is the picturesque Brtonigla, the place of origin of the premium quality wines of this variety celebrated by the special Festival of Istrian Malvasia, where guests can taste the best wines of this Istrian variety in one place.

Istrian Malvasia began conquering the world shortly after the year 1990, when the production of this wine was increased in volume and quality. From that time on, numerous small wineries have appeared all over Istria, boasting ever more excellent Malvasia wines.

400-year-old tradition of Istrian Malvasia

In Istria and Croatia, as in all other Mediterranean countries and regions, winegrowing is in the blood of the local people, and the grape vine is one of the most typical farming cultures that has been thriving for centuries on this heart-shaped peninsula in the Adriatic Sea.

One of the most important descriptions of Istria as a wine region is that by Bishop Tommasini from Novigrad dating back to 1650. 15 Istrian grape varieties were mentioned there, among which the most important were Prosecco, Muscat, Rebula, Refosco, Teran, Hrvatica, Trebijan and Malvasia.

About the variety

Malvasia is the common name for a number of different or related varieties which have been cultivated by the inhabitants of the Mediterranean winegrowing areas since ancient times. Malvasia is grown even in Spain's Canary Islands, Portuguese Azores, as well as in the continent of these countries. It is also produced in France, Slovenia, Montenegro, Albania, California and Greece. According to many, it is precisely from Greece that its name derives. In Croatia, however, there are two types of Malvasia - Istrian Malvasia and the Dubrovnik Malvasia.

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