Istria | Taste of Adriatic

Sunsets in Kaldir

A summer evening is a glass of wine, a delicious snack, good music, a team and a sunset. The sun goes down low, Istria turns golden. Wines are in glasses, snacks are on the table, music is playing. "We are here on the edge of Kaldir and we have a unique view. It would be a shame not to take advantage of it. But the point is not only the sunset. The point is for people to socialize, taste wine, eat good food, chat and maybe stay longer than they planned. If that happens, we ha

Tomislav Radić

7 days ago2 min read

Marić Point: a meeting place of flavours, bees and people

On the main road between Rovinj and Kanfanar, it's hard not to notice the modernly decorated Marić Point. Once a car showroom, today behind the glass walls lies a completely different story, one about local food, family work and the desire to present Istrian products in one place. But Marić Point is not just a tasting room or a delicatessen. It is an educational and presentation center that intertwines butchery, beekeeping, tradition and community. It all started quite sponta

Edvard Badurina

Aug 154 min read

Tavern Mrgani 42: A place where Istria is still cooked slowly, in the local way

On the way through the Istrian interior, between the stone villages and the reddish soil that has nourished this region for centuries, it is easy to miss the small town of Mrgani not far from Kanfanar. However, once you turn towards number 42, you will discover a tavern that does not try to be something it is not. Here, they do not seek spectacle, but rather preserve the most valuable things: home-made taste, family stories and the feeling that you have come to someone's home

Vedran Obućina

Aug 154 min read

Istrian Ox Park: a place where a symbol of Istrian tradition is preserved

There is almost no stronger symbol in Kanfanar than the Istrian ox, the Boškarin. That is why, in front of the place where the Istrian Ox Festival is held every year, the Istrian Ox Park has been established – a space that reminds us of the animal that has fed and built Istria for decades, and today represents one of its most recognizable symbols. At first glance, it is a simple space with wooden moorings to which the most beautiful Istrian oxen are tied during the Jakovlje f

Edvard Badurina

Aug 154 min read

Kanfanarska butiga: a place of taste and spirit of Kanfanar

If you want to take a piece of Kanfanar home with you, before you set off on a tour of the taverns, wineries and family farms, it is best to stop by the Kanfanar boutique. Located in the centre of the town, this small shop is much more than a souvenir shop – it is a showcase of local producers and a kind of treasury of everything that makes Kanfanar recognizable. The project was created by a joint initiative of the Municipality of Kanfanar and the Tourist Board, with a simple

Vedran Obućina

Aug 153 min read

Arma(da)n of Good Wines

I usually start texts about promotions with the venue and information about the winery. This time, without any major dilemmas, I decided to speak/write about Oliver Arman right away, as an introduction. In the last seven days, Franc Arman's winery was even twice on promotions. The first was conducted in a relaxed conversation with the winemaker by Tomislav Tuđen at the Antunović Hotel, and at the second at HKD Napredak, Bogović's sommelier Darko Lugarić and I gave space to th

Vjeko Madunić

Jul 205 min read

32nd Vinistra revealed the future

While the rest of Croatia is clearing vineyards, Istria is proudly planting them, and with more enthusiasm than ever. Last year alone, 80 new hectares of vines sprouted on the peninsula. This was the starting point for the 32nd Vinistra, held from 8 to 10 May 2026 in Poreč's "space" hall Žatika. More than 10,000 visitors from all over the world strolled among 130 exhibitors, but all eyes were on the centerpiece. Not because of the champions, although there were five champions

Matija Jagodin

Jun 42 min read

Bruno Ferenac – Both Hands in the Air!

The title may seem a little unclear at first. It comes from the end of the workshop “Vrijeme je ZA…” held at HKD Napredak under the sommelier guidance of Darko Lugarić. He asked those present to raise one hand for Malvasia or for the red varieties being presented, in order to see which colour or variety had more supporters. At one moment, we all had both hands in the air—meaning that Bruno Ferenac’s wines are inseparable in terms of quality; in other words, they are all excel

Vjeko Madunić

Apr 284 min read

How to Prepare Good Salt Cod

Although everyone in Istria has their own recipe, in the small village of Bačva near Višnjan they prepare salt cod that is renowned far and wide. In the Stefanov family, cod is prepared just as it once was by mother Milena. From a modest konoba where many would stop by to taste Milena’s creamy fish delicacy, her son Aleksandar Stefanov, together with his wife Luiza, has today built a recognisable brand of premium products made from Norwegian cod—Baccalà della Mamma. In additi

Tomislav Radić

Apr 282 min read

A Modern Third-Generation Winery – Ferenac

Historically, the Ferenci/Ferenzi family is mentioned as far back as 1688, when the ancestors of Giulio Ferenac arrived in what is now Istria from the Venetian region. Vine cultivation continued through dozens of generations, and by the late 1980s more serious market-oriented production was initiated by Marčelo (the grandfather) and Giulio (the father) of Marijana Ferenac, who is today increasingly taking care of the winery alongside her father. Marijana Ferenac graduated in

Vjeko Madunić

Apr 134 min read

For Lim Bay Oysters, Head to Restaurant Fjord!

Situated in the unique setting of the Lim Bay, Restaurant Fjord offers an experience that goes beyond a typical lunch or dinner – here, nature, the sea, and gastronomy merge into a seamless and complete story. From the very moment of arrival, it becomes clear what makes this place so special. The Lim Bay, resembling a fjord that cuts deeply into the Istrian landscape, creates an almost surreal backdrop: calm waters, steep green slopes, and a silence broken only occasionally b

Vedran Obućina

Apr 134 min read

Tinjanski Vijulin: Istrian tradition and modern gastronomy

At the heart of the Istrian Peninsula lies the town of Tinjan, ideally positioned along an important transport route. In antiquity, it stood on the road connecting the western coast of Istria with Tarsatica, while today it is just a few minutes’ drive from the Istrian Y motorway exit near Pazin. The town proudly preserves its heritage and traditions, and is especially renowned for its exceptional prosciutto—so much so that Tinjan is often referred to as the “Municipality of I

Domagoj Krpan

Mar 303 min read

Labin Terroir of Lari Juričić

In 2008, Lari Juričić and his family decided to prepare predominantly rocky land with brown soil in the village of Bartići, near Labin. They cleared the terrain, mulched it, and planted their first vines: half a hectare of Malvasia and the same amount of Teran. Today, with new plantings, they cultivate around 3.5 hectares (6,000 Malvasia vines, about 4,000 Teran, 3,000 Merlot, 2,000 Chardonnay, and some Muscat Blanc). We learned that they plan to plant an additional two hecta

Vjeko Madunić

Mar 304 min read

Croatian Cheeses on World Cheese Awards

World Cheese Awards The World Cheese Awards is one of the most prestigious and influential international competitions dedicated to cheese, bringing together producers, experts, and enthusiasts from around the globe each year. Hosting this renowned event in Bern in November 2025 further emphasised its international character and highlighted Switzerland’s importance as a country with a strong cheese-making tradition, knowledge, and quality. Thousands of cheeses from dozens of c

Vedran Obućina

Jan 202 min read

Istrian Sheep Cheese - 52nd Croatian PDO

“Istrian Sheep’s Cheese” has been granted European Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status, as announced by the European Commission in the Official Journal of the European Union on 10 December 2025. With this decision, the product name has been entered into the register of geographical indications for agricultural products and is protected across the entire European Union. The EU Protected Designation of Origin logo displayed on the packaging guarantees consumers that th

Tomislav Radić

Dec 27, 20252 min read

Bokoon – Small Istrian Oasis of Big Flavours

On the western coast of Istria, between Vrsar and Poreč, lies Funtana – a small village of great charm and even greater gastronomic potential. Although modest in size, Funtana has long established itself as a remarkably appealing culinary destination, a place where the Mediterranean spirit meets the authentic flavours of Istria. Barbara Belac from the Funtana Tourist Board highlights how this little fishing village proudly preserves its rich gastronomic tradition through a se

Fran Ratković

Nov 2, 20254 min read