Wine ambassadors, well-known wine-and-dine journalists from Great Britain, Spain, Germany, Switzerland and Italy will promote top Istrian wines and the beauty of Istria in their respective language speaking areas. Organized by Vinistra, they travelled throughout the Istrian peninsula and visited famous wineries.

By hosting the most prestigious wine competition held in Poreč from 11 to 14 May, Istria has obtained five wine ambassadors who, organized by Vinistra - an association of winegrowers and winemakers from Istria, after touring the peninsula and Istrian wineries, were impressed by the autochthonous varieties, the gourmet offer, the rich cultural heritage and beautiful landscapes of the region of Istria.

Along with tastings in the well-known Istrian wineries Matošević, Kozlović, Rossi, Agrolaguna and Medea, as well as a tasting of top-quality wines from the Motovun area organized by the famous winemakers Fakin, Benvenuti, Bertoša, Valenta and Tomaz and the Motovun Tourist Board, they were particularly impressed by the most recognizable Istrian historical building - the Arena in Pula.

"Istria offers a perfect combination of excellent food and wine, cultural heritage and Mediterranean ambience with picturesque places that create unique landscapes. We are particularly impressed by the truly excellent Malvasia and Teran wines, autochthonous varieties that best describe the Istrian land and people", commented the ambassador from Great Britain, Brazilian-born Luma Monteiro.

With her colleagues Pierre Thomas from Switzerland, Spaniard Alejandro López Facorro Paadin, German Thomas Brandlo and Italian Luigi Salva, she discovered which Istrian wines go best with the traditional asparagus, truffle dishes, fuži and pljukanci pasta, gnocchi with boškarin meat, Istrian špaleta...

The most prized variety of the Istrian peninsula is the Malvasia Istria, a golden coloured wine with a pleasant aroma of acacia flowers and moderate freshness. Higher locations in central Istria, facing south, are reserved for Teran, another autochthonous Istrian variety known and adored for its wild herbal aromas and smoothness.

The ambassadors of this year's Concours Mondial de Bruxelles are all well-known wine journalists who, during the competition in Poreč, are expected to lead masterclasses on Istrian autochthonous varieties for judges from their respective language speaking areas.