Our travels last year led us to Istria, Croatia. While our primary focus was on exploring the local wines, it was the vibrant culinary landscape that truly left a lasting impression. Istria, situated in the northernmost coastal region of Croatia, lies opposite Northern Italy across the Adriatic Sea. Croatia, like many nations in the region, emerged from the conflicts that characterized its history. Once a part of Yugoslavia, Croatia has been part of various neighboring countries over the years.
Croatia’s rich culinary scene reflects its complex history, with influences from its past associations evident in its top-tier restaurants, some of which boast Michelin stars. Among these dining establishments, Villa Morgan stands out as a memorable experience, located in a charmingly remote and picturesque setting.
Our first AdVINEture to northern Italy’s Friuli Venezia-Giulia region and Istria in northern Croatia revealed a wine traveller’s paradise. The countryside is beautiful and as of now quite unspoiled by tourists. The culinary scene is top notch with some outstanding restaurants, (several with Michelin stars) and the cuisine shows the diversity of the many countries that have influenced both regions. Gems like these do not remain undiscovered for long in the tourism world so we recommend getting there before the secret is out. Both areas are accessed easily via Venice so we spent a few days there too for good measure! Click on the video link below for a glimpse of highlights including winery visits to Jermann, Coronica, Kozlović, and Meneghetti:
For the adventurous wine lover seeking to explore unique and off-the-beaten-path experiences, the world offers plenty of unconventional wine tourism destinations. Our latest article for The Daily Hive herereveals some hidden gems awaiting beyond the famed vineyards of France, Italy, and California. Croatia, China, Mexico, Georgia, the Canary Islands, Uruguay, India, and Chile all offer something delicious worth seeking out.
The Meneghetti Winery and Wine Hotel is a hidden gem that unveils the richness of Croatian wine culture through luxury, history, and a deep-rooted passion for winemaking.For wine and travel enthusiasts seeking an extraordinary experience, this remarkable estate offers the seamless fusion of rustic charm and refined elegance that we’ve come to expect from a Relais & Chateaux property.
Malvazija is quickly becoming popular, with good reason!
Ask a sommelier, a wine store owner or anyone else who is current with today’s wine trends what the hot topic is now and they will probably answer with something like: “today’s wine drinker is looking for a reaction to what their parents drank; they don’t want heavy wines that are found in stuffy old cellars. They want fresh, lively wines that emphasize aromatics and acidity; they want to try new wines made from different grapes and from different regions than what the old guard drank.” As we recently found out, a Malvazija from Istria not just hits the bullseye of this new zeitgeist, but it tastes totally delicious as well!
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