Istria Origin
Istria Origin
Istria Origin
Istria Origin

Vižinada is the municipality with the most vineyards and wineries per capita in Istria

On an area of 36.10 km2, there are almost 200 ha of vineyards. The municipality is proud of its 13 winemakers, i.e. 13 recognizable wine brands that originated from family traditions and then nurtured on by younger generations.

Vižinada – the starting point for discovering the wine story of Istria

Always an essential wine destination in Istria, Vižinada is the center of wine virtuosos and successful family wineries. It has a unique terroir, a tradition that goes back centuries and wineries that have left an indelible mark on the domestic and international wine scene.

The vineyards of Vižinada lay in a similar geographical position to some of the most famous wine regions in the world

The vineyards are located at 45°30′- 45°35′ north latitude like some of the largest and most famous wine regions in the world (Bordeaux, Rhone Valley, Piedmont, Oregon and others).

The unique terroir of Vižinada seems to have been created for the production of top quality wines

The area of Vižinada combines Mediterranean and sub-Mediterranean climates with as many as three types of soil: red, white and gray. Most of the vineyards are located on an elevated plateau from 250 to 280 m above sea level, which protects them from too high summer and too low winter temperatures.

The excellence of Vižinada wine has been talked about since the 17th century.

Trieste’s physician and historian Prospero Petronio (1608-1688) in his work Delle memorie dell’Istria, sacre e profane (1681) describes Vižinada as “a place abounding in healthy air and good soil where, in addition to grain and other crops, excellent wine is produced in large quantities.”

Vižinada's winemakers have won the most platinum medals for Istrian Malvasia

Malvasias from Vižinada are considered to be the best-rated Istrian Malvasias ever at the international evaluation World of Malvasia organized by Vinistra – the association of winegrowers and winemakers of Istria: 5 platinum medals won, 2 grand gold medals and 51 gold medals.

On average, every tenth gold-winning Malvasia at Vinistra comes from a wine cellar in the area of Vižinada

Vinistra is the largest and oldest regional exhibition of wine and winemaking equipment that has been held in Poreč since 1994. With more than 170 gold medals won at Vinistra, we can say that on average every tenth gold-awarded Malvasia at Vinistra comes from a wine cellar located in the area of Vižinada.

International varieties thrive in Vižinada better than elsewhere in Istria

In addition to the autochthonous and mostly grown Istrian Malvasia and Teran varieties, some international varieties such as chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, syrah, merlot, pinot white, black and gray and muscat white and yellow also thrive here. The local terroir seems to donate them a new dimension.

Vižinada winemakers are among the pioneers of modern Istrian winemaking

At the turn of the millennium, several winemakers from the Vižinada microlocation stand out on the Istrian wine scene. We consider them today to be the founders of modern Istrian winemaking.

Vižinada wines

In a small area there are three types of soil - red, white and gray, which are all suitable for growing the most diverse varieties of wine. Most of the vineyards around Vižinada are located on the plateau above the Mirna river valley, at 200 to 300 meters above sea level. It is exactly the elevation that has always provided some ideal climatic conditions - protection from both high summer temperatures and lower temperatures during cool nights. The suitable land and microclimate managed by family traditions and brought to excellence by modern technologies in production, have contributed to making the terroir of Vižinada become so unique.

Due to the distinctiveness of its terroir, Vižinada is known for the exceptional quality of some autochthonous varieties such as Istrian Malvasia and Teran. Moreover, in Vižinada some international varieties such as cabernet sauvignon, merlot, chardonnay, white sauvignon, syrah and others, are successfully cultivated, as well as various blends such as rosé wines and sparkling wines.

Winemakers of Vižinada

Some of the local winemakers started their wine story about a hundred years ago which younger generations have successfully carried on. Thanks to them, Vižinada can boast of being the municipality with the greatest number of wineries and vineyards per capita

Among the vineyards in the Western Istria, at the intersection of the roads and where the climate of the region changes, Vižinada is located – it is where the beginnings of the story of Istrian wine take place.

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Istria Origin

History

First winemakers in Istria

Winegrowing and winemaking in Vižinada were already mentioned in medieval written sources, while in the 17th century as many as 15 wine varieties growing in this area were named. Prospero Petronio (1608-1688), a doctor and historian from Trieste describes Vižinada as "a place abounding in healthy air and good territory where, along with grain and other crops, excellent wine in large quantities is produced", in his work “Delle memorie dell'Istria, sacre e profane” (1681).