Hrvatska Istra

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• Crvenica is low in humus, nitrogen, and phosphorus, with a depth of 30–70 cm and a clayey red layer formed from the insoluble residues of vapnenac; 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 predominant training system is single- or double-arm Guyot; Malvazija istarska and Teran are cultivated only in a few cross-border regions.

• White wines: crystal clear, greenish-yellow to golden-yellow in colour, fresh, with pleasant acidity and fruity, floral, and spicy aromas; also well suited to extended ageing.

• Diurnal temperature variation favours the preservation of acids, varietal aromas (terpenes, thiols), and anthocyanins in red grape varieties.
• The mediteranska/submediteranska klima, with warm autumns and a specific wind regime (bura, jugo, maestral), enables kasna berba harvests for desertno vino production.
• The pedo-climatic specificities of ZOI Hrvatska Istra allow the full varietal potential of Malvazija istarska and Muscat varieties to be expressed — characteristically pronounced varietal aroma.
• Teran is produced exclusively within ZOI Hrvatska Istra; its high acidity and extract, conditioned by the terroir, give it a distinctive flavour profile and a ruby-violet colour.
• The interplay of mediteranska klima and kontinentalna klima across the micro-locations of the ZOI allows the production of base wines for sparkling wine 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