Over 70 Istrian winemakers present the new vintage of Istrian Malvasia in the capital

"Outstanding for white wines!" - that’s how last year’s viticultural season can be described. Wine professionals and enthusiasts who attended the 13th En Primeur of Young Malvasias had the opportunity to see for themselves. More than 70 Istrian winemakers gathered at Esplanade Zagreb Hotel to present the latest vintage of Istrian Malvasia, joined by their colleagues from Kvarner showcasing young Žlahtina wines.

"I am extremely proud of the unity among Istrian winemakers, which is evident at this event. More than half of our association members come to Zagreb every year to present one of Istria’s symbols – Istrian Malvasia. This truly makes us unique, as such an example is hard to find not only in the broader region but perhaps even in the world," said Luka Rossi, president of Vinistra, while also addressing the rising costs in the wine sector.

Despite a challenging year that saw 30% lower yields on average, along with increased production costs and a labor shortage, these factors will not significantly impact the price of the new vintage in Istria, said the president of the largest winemakers’ association in the region, which has over 120 members.

This year’s En Primeur began with a masterclass on the potential of the 2024 Istrian Malvasia vintage. Out of 48 samples, seven most ready-to-drink wines were selected, representing six Istrian terroirs – southern, western, northwestern, northern, central and eastern Istria.

"The year was meteorologically very warm. Due to rain during flowering, pollination was weaker, and the dry period led to an earlier Malvasia harvest. Despite lower yields, the wines are expected to be of exceptional quality," concluded dr. Kristijan Damijanić from the University of Rijeka, Agricultural Department in Poreč.

Renowned sommelier Emil Perdec highlighted that the Malvasia wines retained their freshness, which is well-integrated into their structure and body, offering balance while maintaining characteristic aromas.

A Journey Over Three Decades Long

"You have successfully outshined the competition at global showcases with your 2023 vintage, and we expect the 2024 vintage to be just as successful. You are expanding vineyards and production areas, which is encouraging, and in this sense, we hope to see Croatian viticulture and winemaking continue to progress," said Tugomir Majdak, State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, speaking on behalf of the Prime Minister at yet another remarkably organized En Primeur event, attended by more than 600 wine lovers.

Expressing his satisfaction at being part of the opening of the young Malvasia tasting season and events dedicated to Istrian wines, Istrian Prefect Boris Miletić reflected on a journey that has transformed Istria into a globally renowned wine region over the past three decades.

"Year after year, our winemakers outdo themselves, proving that Istria is deservedly known worldwide as a region of top-quality wines. Winemakers are the pride of Istria! Malvasia is not just one of the symbols of Istria, as Vinistra President Luka Rossi said, but also a major brand—something that did not happen overnight. For years, we have been skilled viticulturists, but over the past thirty years, we have made huge strides in the quality of our Malvasia wines.

The Vinistra event has undoubtedly contributed to this progress, and let’s not forget that two years ago, we had the honor of hosting the prestigious global competition Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. I believe we cannot settle for mediocrity, so we have strategically chosen the path of excellence—as we cannot compete on the global market with quantity, we do so with exceptional quality, which has proven to be a winning formula for success," concluded Boris Miletić.