Istria | Croatia Blog

Enological combination of pleasure and preserved tradition

Bloged in Croatia, Culture, Gastronomy, Istria, Tourism by admin Thursday October 9, 2008

Wine is an inevitable part of Istria’s identity, and the wine roads are an organic part of the tourist offer. They are the first selective tourist project and the first one that does not relate to the sea and beaches. Representing a dynamically developing process of a traditional, cultural, economic and tourist nature, they receive over 130 thousand visitors a year. There are presently six wine roads in the Istrian region: in the areas of Buje, Porec, Buzet, Pazin, Rovinj, Vodnjan and Labin, including 88 itineraries/stations. Renowned winemakers are involved in the wine road project, striving to present their wines in an appropriate manner. The visitors first see the vineyards, then take a tour of the cellars where they are told about grape processing and wine keeping, and finally taste the products. Many winemakers grow their own olives and make prosciutto, pickled mushrooms and other products, including them in their offer. Numerous visitors choose to buy wine because it is much cheaper in the cellars than restaurants or stores. Both winemakers and their guests agree that a wine itinerary can be just as exciting as visiting a museum, a basilica or an important sporting event. Wine roads were a predecessor of agrotourism in Istria’s interior. Today, the county and the county tourist board support wine roads, especially their promotion. Wine roads contribute to human engagement in the preservation and reconstruction of the original ambient and traditional legacies, thus enriching the tourist product. In addition, the people of Istria have realized they generate loyal guests who come back not just during the season but in preseason and postseason, providing each winemaker with the opportunity to promote their wine and other products.