Michelin Release Special Guide for Istria Region

Meneghetti – Wine Hotel, Restaurant & Winery makes the guide (Facebook)

The oldest and most prestigious European restaurant guide, which awards Michelin stars for excellence, has published a guide for the Istrian region of Croatia for the second year in a row.

The special Red Michelin Guide is usually published for places like Paris or Barcelona, or regions of specific gourmet importance, and the region of Istria has met Michelin’s strict criteria to be worthy of a special guide for two years in a row now.

Croatia now has three restaurants with Michelin Stars, including Monte in Istria. Two new Michelin recommended restaurants made the Istria Guide this year – Buščina and Badi, both from Umag.

Michelin Istria Croatia

“This year’s important new editions in the guide include the presentation of the 16 best Istrian wineries and the same number of olive groves in the region. This edition of Istria is very important, and its effects are especially important for the future perspective of Istria,” Istria Tourist Board Director Denis Ivošević said.

Michelin – Istria Croatia Guide is available in English and German with 15,000 editions which will be made available free of charge at the restaurants in the guides and also at key places in Istria.

Restautants in the Michelin – Istria Guide:
Monte*, Rovinj-Rovigno
Alla Beccaccia, Valbandon
Batelina, Banjole
Badi, Lovrečica-Umag/Umago – new
Buščina, Sv.Marija na krasu, Umag-Umago – new
Damir&Ornella, Novigrad-Cittanova
Konoba Čok, Novigrad-Cittanova
Konoba Morgan, Bracanija, Buje-Buie
Marina, Novigrad-Cittanova
Meneghetti, Bale-Valle
Pergola, Zambratija-Zambrattia
San Rocco, Brtonigla-Verteneglio
Sv. Nikola, Poreč-Parenzo
Wine Vault, Rovinj-Rovigno
Zigante, Livade-Levade

Monte in Rovinj

Wineries in the Michelin – Istria Guide:
Agrolaguna, Poreč
Arman Franc, Vižinada
Arman Marijan, Vižinada
Benvenuti, Motovun
Cattunar, Brtonigla
Clai, Krasica
Coronica, Umag
Cuj, Umag
Degrassi, Savudrija
Kabola, Buje
Kozlović, Momjan
Matošević, Sv. Lovreč
Meneghetti, Bale
Roxanich, Motovun
Trapan, Šišan
Veralda, Brtongila

Roxanich (Photo credit: Roxanich.hr)

Best Olive Groves the Michelin – Istria Guide:

Agrolaguna, Poreč
Al Torcio, Novigrad
Basiaco, Buje
Belci, Vodnjan
Buršić, Brtonigla
Chiavalon, Vodnjan
Grubić, Bale
Ipša, Livade
Mate, Savudrija
Medea-Agroprodukt, Pula
Meneghetti, Bale
Negri , Labin
Olea BB, Rabac
Tonin, Vodnjan
Zigante, Buje
Zubin, Umag

Chiavalon (Photo credit: Facebook)

Michelin Istria Croatia – Green Guide 
Beram (freske) ***
Eufrazijeva bazilika ***
Motovun-Montona**
Grožnjan_Grisignana**
Poreč-Parenzo**
Limski zaljev **
Rovinj-Rovigno**
Brijuni **
Znamenitosti Pule (Arena, Forum, Slavoluk Sergijevaca) **
Sakralna zbirka cr. Sv. Blaža, Vodnjan **
Starogradska jezgra Labina **
Plomin **
Pula – Pola *
Vodnjan – Dignano *
Bale -Valle *
Labin *
Svetvinčenat *
Sv. Lovreč *
Draguć *
Aleja Glagoljaša *
Hum *
Vrsar – Orsera *
Novigrad – Cittanova
Oprtalj – Portole
Umag – Umago

Rovinj (Photo: Rovinj Tourist Board)

The Michelin Guide was founded in 1900, when the famous tyre factory began publishing it in order to promote motorsports. However, over time it has become the alpha and omega of all gourmets assigning its famous Michelin stars.

Such a method of assessing restaurants began in 1926, where one star meant a very good restaurant, two stars a restaurant with excellent cuisine, while three stars were appointed to exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey.
Up until 2005, the guide focused on Europe, especially on France, and only then it began to expand beyond these borders.

The criteria of Michelin inspection is very strict and severe; inspectors are not announced and are not presented, and during their visit they evaluate the quality of the ingredients used, the art of cooking and the combination of spices, creativity, quality stability and the price-quality ratio.