📍 Slovenian Istria

Slovenian Istria is a small wine zone on Slovenia's narrow coast by the Adriatic Sea, around the towns of Koper, Izola and Piran. It belongs to the Primorska wine region. Slovenia's coastline is short, and the vineyards here lie on hilly slopes not far from the sea.

The main red grape is Refošk (Refosco), which makes dark wines with high acidity and notes of black berries and spice. The main white is Malvazija, a dry aromatic wine with notes of flowers and almond. The climate is Mediterranean and warm, and the wind refreshes the vineyards.

Soils are flysch, that is alternating layers of marl and sandstone, called opoka locally. They give the wine minerality and good acidity.

Slovenian Istria is part of Primorska and of Slovenian winemaking, and also of the north-western part of the Istrian peninsula, where winemaking links Slovenia, Croatia and Italy. The same Malvazija and the same Refošk grow here as in neighbouring Croatian Istria. Malvazija suits fish, and Refošk meat and pasta. The name Slovenian Istria on a label shows that the grapes grew in this very area, which makes it easy to look for similar wines.