Hrvatska Istra

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• Terra rossa (crvenica) is poor in humus, nitrogen, and phosphorus, with a depth of 30–70 cm and a clayey red layer formed from the insoluble residues of limestones; viticulture is most highly developed on this soil type.
• Pronounced diurnal temperature variation favours the preservation of acids, terpenes, thiols, and anthocyanins; mean annual temperature is 13.9 °C, rising to 19.5 °C during the growing season.

• The single- or double-Guyot training system predominates; Malvazija istarska and Teran are cultivated only in a few cross-border regions.

• White wines are crystal clear, ranging from greenish-yellow to golden yellow in appearance, fresh and pleasantly acidic on the palate, with fruity, floral, and spicy aromas; they are also well suited to extended ageing.

• The Mediterranean/sub-Mediterranean climate, with warm autumns and a distinctive wind regime — bura, jugo, and maestral — allows for late harvests destined for dessert wines.
• The pedoclimatic characteristics of the PDO Hrvatska Istra allow the full varietal potential of Malvazija istarska and Muscat varieties to be expressed, resulting in characteristically pronounced varietal aromatics.
• Teran is produced exclusively within the PDO Hrvatska Istra; its high acidity and extract, conditioned by the terroir, give it a distinctive character and a ruby-violet colour.
• The interplay of Mediterranean and continental climates across micro-sites within the PDO yields base wines for sparkling production with high acidity and well-developed aromatic potential.

Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.

Sources

• eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PDO-HR-A1652
• Official trade body site — Vinistra – Udruga vinogradara i vinara Istre