Cheers to Istrian wines: Vinistra’s 29th edition is here

(Photo credit: Merlo De Graia (Vinistra arhiva 2022)

Vinistra, the prestigious wine event in Istria, Croatia, is set to take place from May 5 to 7 at the Žatika hall in Poreč. This year marks the 29th edition of the event, which brings together wine connoisseurs and enthusiasts from across the globe to sample the top wines of 80 Istrian winemakers.

In addition to the wine tastings, Vinistra has prepared two pop-up zones for true hedonists – Vinistra’s wine shop and the gourmet zone. Visitors to the wine shop will receive a five-euro voucher with their ticket purchase, while the exclusive gourmet zone will feature pairings of cocktails and cheeses on Friday, May 5, and cigars and strong alcoholic drinks on Saturday, May 6.

(Photo credit: Merlo De Graia (Vinistra arhiva 2022)

Throughout the event, attendees can also enjoy selected Istrian snacks with the signature of Plava Laguna and cold meats from Histris.

Vinistra will also focus on sustainability and quality this year. Visitors can taste all award-winning malvasias from Istria and the world under the expert guidance of famous sommeliers at the World of Malvasia exhibition stand.

(Photo credit: Merlo De Graia (Vinistra arhiva 2022)

The professional events, which take place on the hall on the floor above the exhibition hall, include talks about the EU’s system of protected designations of origin and geographical origin for wine, sustainable viticulture, and the production of brandy. The professional events will conclude on Saturday with a tasting of Decanter-awarded wines from Kvarner, organized by the Kvarner Tourist Board and the Kvarner Wine Association.

(Photo credit: Merlo De Graia (Vinistra arhiva 2022)

The Sunday program will feature a tasting of Istrian blends led by Tomislav Mikinac, sommelier of the Croatian Sommelier Club, and a workshop on the use of artificial intelligence in winemaking. The event will conclude with the workshop “5 for 5 winemaking studies,” where Dr. sc. Mario Staver, head of the Agricultural Department of the Polytechnic in Rijeka, will present the award-winning wines of students who acquired their knowledge at this higher education institution.

(Photo credit: Merlo De Graia (Vinistra arhiva 2022)

To avoid crowds, tickets for the 29th Vinistra and workshops can be purchased online through Vinistra’s webshop. Poreč restaurateurs have also prepared special menus with welcome drinks during the week of Vinistra. In addition, the Poreč waterfront will host two attractive concerts on May 5 and 6, featuring Night Express and Gustafi, respectively.

(Photo credit: Merlo De Graia (Vinistra arhiva 2022)

The week of Vinistra begins on May 3 with the traditional ceremonial awarding of awards to producers who sent their samples to Vinistra’s evaluation of wines and strong alcoholic beverages and the 14th World of Malvasia. The event will bring together more foreign guests every year, with more than 350 evaluators from all over the world and over 60 percent of eno-gastro journalists expected to attend the prestigious international Concours Mondial de Bruxelles judging from May 11 to 14 in Žatika.