Slovenska istra

Slovenian Istria is the southernmost Slovenian wine-growing region. It lies along the Adriatic Sea, between Italy and Croatia, and the Karst rim. It is the warmest, sunniest part of the country.

The climate is mild Mediterranean, with hot summers and mild winters. The cold wind (burja) come from the continent and the warm southerly winds from the sea bring rainfall. However, droughts are frequent during the summer months. Most of the vineyards stretch from 250 metres above sea level to the coast. The soil is composed of felsic with admixtures of sandstone and marl.

45% of the vineyards are covered by refošk and 30% by Istrian malvasia. The wine is deep purple in colour, medium-bodied, with high acidity and characteristic aromas of red and black fruit. Malvazija is an aromatic variety with lower acids and a characteristic aroma of acacia and yellow fruit.

Varieties that need more heat, such as cabernet sauvignon and syrah, can only ripen fully here. Other, more widespread varieties are merlot, yellow muscat and chardonnay.
In general, these are wines where the high sugar levels of the over-ripe grapes and the low acids produce alcohol-rich wines, with low acids and higher extracts.