8 Best Sights in Istria, Croatia

Near the small medieval hill town of Momjan, the Kabola Winery is a must-visit for wine and olive oil aficionados. This boutique winery offers tours of its wine cellar and small wine museum and full tastings in its picturesque traditional Istrian farmhouse. Vintners since 1891, the Markezic family produces only organic wines and extra-virgin olive oil. Their wines are wonderful, with their Malvazija Unica, Teran, and Dolce being some of the more popular. Their olive oil blends three kinds of olives: indigenous Istarska Bjelica mixed with Leccino and Pendolino. Fresh, well-rounded, and balanced, it marries perfectly with seafood, cheese, and salads. Call in advance to arrange a visit to sample their wares.

At Gianfranco and Antonella Kozlović's stylish architecturally impressive winery, which complements the scenic countryside, you can enjoy an extensive wine tasting indoors or on their outdoor terrace overlooking the vineyard. If you call ahead, you can enjoy a full tasting of wine and olive oil as you enjoy local cheeses and prosciutto. Next door is Stari Podrum, one of the best tavern restaurants in Istria.

You can taste, experience, and shop all at this well-regarded value-oriented winery. The tasting room provides a sampling of their high-quality Istrian wines, olive oils, and cheeses. One white varietal, Malvazija, is well known throughout the Adriatic, dating back to the days of the Venetian city-states. Muškat Ottonel is another high-quality native variety. Small lovingly produced batches of barrique provide high-quality (red) wine that is well-regarded in restaurants and hotels across Croatia. You can also get guided tastings, cellar tours, wine roads, and vineyard tours, and the winery has the largest AgroLaguna single olive grove in Croatia.

The Cuj olive oils (and wines) are a true labor of love and passion. Owner Danijel Kraljevic—Cuj—will infuse you with both when you visit his wine and olive oil estate in the village of Farnažine near Umag. A beautifully restored, old stone building houses an olive mill, wine cellar, and tasting room with an open fireplace. He produces three single-sort extra-virgin olive oils—Buža, Črna, and Bjelica—and one multi-sort extra-virgin olive oil—Selekcija. Call in advance to arrange a visit.

With vineyards in the northeast, Matošević Winery welcomes visitors for a tour and tasting at their top-notch cellars in Krunčići, near Sveti Lovreč, a village not far from Rovinj. Their Malvazijas Rubina and Alba bear international renown and are served at many Michelin-starred restaurants.

A family boutique winery in the northeast corner of the peninsula between Buje and Umag, Coronica produces some of Croatia's most delicious wines. A highlight is their Malvazija, a white grape native to Istria best enjoyed served with fish and seafood. The Gran Teran, a local variety of red wine, has been a gold medal winner at international wine competitions for many years.  

This small family-run winery in Golaš, a small village in Bale, just 17 km (10½ miles) south of Rovinj, is housed in a beautifully restored 150-year-old farmhouse with exposed stones and large wooden beams. The property features a wine cellar, a tasting room with a big open fireplace, and a small ethnographic museum displaying old family photos and equipment that once was used in the wine-making process in Istria. Don’t let their Malvazija Istarska fool you–although the wine is fresh, easy to drink, and sweet, it is still 14% alcohol. They also produce a few reds, a rosé, and the sweet dessert, Muscat Žuti. If the owner, Janja, happens to be there, ask her to let you taste her raisin wine, which isn't for sale. You can also stay in the winery's modern pension.

Don’t miss a trip to Trapan Food & Wine Station in Šišan, less than 10 km (6 miles) from Pula. A visit to this trendy winery includes a wine tasting and tour, with a full gastronomy experience available to complement the wines offered. Popular labels to take home include Uroboros and Ponente, both white wines of 100% Malvazija Istarska, and Che, a sparkling wine of 100% Terrano.