Vinistra was highlighted as a prime example of quality and excellence at the press conference in Zagreb, announcing the 31st edition of the renowned wine event

Three days of fantastic wine tasting in Poreč. That’s how Luka Rossi, president of the Association of Winemakers and Winegrowers of Istria and Kvarner, described the upcoming 31st edition of Vinistra during the presentation in Zagreb, of this year’s most prestigious domestic wine event. Vinistra will take place from May 9th to 11th at the Žatika Hall in Poreč, gathering as many as 130 exhibitors, including 90 winemakers.

“Vinistra continuously follows global trends. After 30 years, we changed the evaluation system based on the models of Decanter and Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, which was praised by the judges themselves. This year, for the first time, we also declared champions in the categories of Žlahtina and Muškat momjanski,” emphasized Luka Rossi.

Tugomir Majdak, State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, which supports and participates in the event, also invited everyone to celebrate the richness of Istrian and Kvarner wines. “Croatia has as many as 130 indigenous grape varieties. The Ministry is working on funding new vineyards as well as increasing marketing budgets. Our strategy through 2030 is to increase the production of value-added food,” said Majdak.

“Through its continuous progress, Vinistra is a model of how things should be done. The Istria and Kvarner region accounts for 25 percent of domestic wine production, excellently paired with local gastronomy. However, we need to increase both production and marketing investment,” stressed Dragan Kovačević, Vice President of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce for Agriculture and Tourism.

“We need excellence and quality because we are too small to settle for mediocrity,” emphasized Istrian Prefect Boris Miletić. He remarked that wine and Istria blend best at Vinistra, thanking the winemakers for their excellent promotion of Istria both in Croatia and internationally.

A beautiful story of Vinistra’s growth from a small wine event to today’s impressive numbers was shared by Poreč Mayor Loris Peršurić. He stated that, alongside extending the tourist season, an excellent synergy between tourism and gastronomy has been achieved, highlighting that now reservations are needed for well-visited Istrian restaurants and hotels on weekends.

“Over more than 30 years, Vinistra has grown into a respected platform that brings together not only winemakers and wine lovers, but also scientists, hospitality professionals, sommeliers, and all those who recognize the value in a drop of top-quality Malvasia, Teran, or any other treasure offered by Istria and Croatia,” said Emil Perdec, Assistant Director of Food & Beverage Operations at Plava Laguna. He emphasized that the Poreč-based hotel company has supported Vinistra over the years not just as a sponsor, but as a true partner.

The Istrian wine story will become even more beautiful following this edition of Vinistra, which will open on May 9th at 11 a.m. at Žatika Hall. All wine lovers from Istria, Croatia, and around the world are welcome. Tickets are already available at the link.