Marijan Arman of Vižinada in Istria is the winner of the 25th Vinistra in the young Malvazijas category, as well as the World of Malvazijas category with his G Cru from a tough 2017. In the aged Malvazijas category the winner is the less known Giulio Ferenac, also from Vižinada, with a 2016 Malvazija. Among the young Terans first place went to Marko Fakin from Motovun with the Il Primo 2017. It is interesting Fakin won four gold medals for his various Terans. The Fuga from 2015 by the Rovinj family Dobravac triumphed in the aged Terans class.
Moreno Degrassi is the Istrian champion of Cabernet, also best in the Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon categories, while Laguna’s Festigia won among Merlots, and the Kozlović red Santa Lucia is the best among red cuvees. San Salvatore by the Benvenuti brothers is the best rated Momjan Muscat. The Refošk competition was dominated by Slovenian winemakers.
Vinistra obviously hasn’t lost its appeal. Its rating is still important to the majority of leading Istrian winemakers such as Kozlović, Laguna, Benvenuti, Fakin, Medea (gold for Chardonnay), Degrassi, Cattunar, Tomas (gold for Terans) or Meneghetti. However a total of 145 gold medals, after a very tough harvest, is definitely too much. An inflation of medals is not good for the reputation of any serious competition.
Translated from Plava Kamenica, click here for the original.
