Istria is the smallest of Croatia’s wine regions, but it is one of the country’s most dynamic and most celebrated. Why? The answer lies in its ambitious producers, who in 1994 created the advocacy and promotional association Vinistra. Now over 30 years old, Vinistra plays an important role in supporting research, expanding markets and creating promotional opportunities for its 120 growers and winemakers.
At the Decanter Winners’ Showcase event in Istria in July, Decanter sat down with the association’s president, Luka Rossi, to learn more about the association’s outlook, successes and future.
Natural advantages
Istria is Croatia’s top tourist destination and Rossi is convinced that its natural riches can help propel the region’s wines on the world stage: ‘Food and wine tourism is a focus. People come here and enjoy our landscape, as well as our outstanding produce, and logically they also love our wine.’
Visitors can certainly enjoy every aspect of this environment: Rossi’s own winery, Vina Rossi, was the first in Europe to offer helicopter rides, providing a unique perspective of this beautiful landscape and the surrounding Adriatic Sea. Now, he explains, ‘with social media, we can create a lot of noise about these activities and access new markets.’
From left: Ivan Marić, Maria-Paola Brgić, Ema Piljan, Sanja Brnobić and Luka Rossi.
Changing of the guard
Rossi is particularly excited about how Istria’s younger producers are adopting not only innovative winemaking techniques, but also novel marketing strategies. ‘Our older growers and winemakers are very supportive of our young people. Previous generations paved the way, but the new generation studied internationally’, he notes. Rossi is passionate about ensuring the next generation get all the support they need: ‘they have shown they can fly but now they need the gas to fuel their passion; they need help because they are primed to do something truly great.’
Vinistra is urgently campaigning for political support to ensure its funding into the future. The region is small, and Vinistra’s budget relies on producer fees. ‘Our winemakers have shown they can win the top medals and collaborate with the biggest names in the sector’, Rossi reminds us, ‘but now they need more investment to grow.’
Vinistra holds many events each year.
Global connections
At the same time, Rossi is proud of how much Vinistra has already achieved to put Istria firmly on the map: ‘We are enjoying the success of international initiatives – like hosting the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles in 2023, much sooner than expected.’
And what about events like the Winners’ Showcase? ‘[Working with] Decanter is such a big honour – the generation before could only dream
about it. Decanter is the biggest door to the world of wines’, Rossi notes. ‘Our only fear now’, he adds with a smile, ‘is that we must be sure of what we show the world – because people are now paying attention!’
Celebrating 30 years of Vinistra. Video supplied by Vinistra.
All photographs Vinistra/Merlo de Graia.
Discover more about Vinistra
Connect on
Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube
Read more about Istrian wines:
Istria: Identity you can taste
Decanter Winners’ Showcase 2025
Understanding Istria’s soils
Istria’s hall of fame
-
Protos: Defining the wines of the futureSponsored Content Winemaker Marilena Bonilla has overseen many changes during two decades at Protos, one of Spain’s most famous wineries. She reflects on the history and legacy of the iconic Ribera del Duero brand, and how she is adapting the wines for the future.
-
Selvanella: A Chianti Classico pioneerSponsored Content In 1969, when Chianti Classico was still dominated by blends and bulk production, one estate put the name of its vineyard on the label. It was an act of conviction that still defines it today.
-
Cantina Tollo: Business not as usualSponsored Content In the heart of Abruzzo, Cantina Tollo is proving that cooperatives are becoming a key source of quality wine. The benchmark producer shows how a long-term vision can balance tradition and innovation to create a truly sustainable business – and some very serious wines.
-
Two different faces of Tuscany: Castello di Radda and Cantina Fabio MottaSponsored Content For 50 years the Agricole Gussalli Beretta group has been dedicated to producing wines of the highest quality in Italy’s most prestigious wine-growing regions.
-
Bordeaux whites and crémants: Energy, freshness and renewalSponsored Content A deep dive into the new-wave dry white and sparkling wines from a region undergoing a vibrant renaissance creating crisp, lively expressions that blend Atlantic freshness, historical roots, and modern innovation for everyday enjoyment.
-
Azienda Agricola Cortese: Championing sustainability in the heart of SicilySponsored Content Meet the winemakers using ancient techniques and sustainable practices to create fresh, modern interpretations of Sicilian varieties
-
Dalmatia's hall of fame: DWWA winnersSponsored Content Discover a selection of medal-winning Dalmatian wines from the Decanter World Wine Awards.
-
Istria’s hall of fameSponsored Content Top Istrian wines from the Decanter World Wine Awards...
