Istria: Vinistra’s bright future

Vinistra 2026 fair, with a stand saying Vinoteka with lots of wines, and people with wine glasses — The Vinistra 2026 fair.

(Image credit: Merlo de Graia / Vinistra)

Published 30 September 2026 In Features

The 32nd edition of Vinistra wine fair took place from 8-10 May 2026 in the seaside town of Poreč, Croatia. Organised by Association Vinistra, which brings together Istrian growers and winemakers, the fair is a key event for the local wine sector, as well as attracting international visitors.

Rewarding excellence

The fair opened with the presentation of the winners of the Vinistra Wine & Spirits Awards and The World of Malvasia competition. Organised by Association Vinistra, these two competitions celebrate both Istrian and international excellence.

Five Champion medals were given in the Wine & Spirits Awards for wineries Clai, Kozlović, PZ Vrbnik, Tomaz and Zigante Vero. In the World of Malvasia competition, Spanish winery Rossneu received the Best in Show award for its Malvasia Blanc 2025, while a further nine Platinum and 97 Gold medals were presented.

'World of Malvasia' award trophy &ndash; small cream stone award with gold circle — Best in Show trophy for The World of Malvasia award.

A story of evolution

For producers, the Vinistra fair is a chance to highlight the diversity and evolution of their wines. ‘Two years ago, we modernised our visual identity, unified and refreshed our fair, and showed that Istria’s wine story is built by both large wine producers and small family wineries alike,’ explains Luka Rossi, President of Association Vinistra. ‘In that diversity lies our strength.’

This year’s fair saw the debut of the young winemakers group Gen V, with a dedicated tasting area for their wines. The formation of this group is particularly timely and comes at an exciting time in the region: while Croatia has lost around 4,000ha since 2020, Istria is bucking the trend, planting 100ha of new vines in 2025 alone.

'We want to show our potential, and remain authentic, strong, and globally relevant'
Luka Rossi, President of Association Vinistra

Entrance to Vinistra 2026 fair, with lots of people below a green sign saying 'Vinistra' — The Vinistra 2026 fair.

Not just today but tomorrow

With over 130 exhibitors from Istria, the rest of Croatia, Spain, Italy, Slovenia, North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Vinistra fair presents a strong regional identity in an international context.

Alongside tastings, this year visitors could discover new winemaking equipment and experience cooking shows with wine and food matching, highlighting wine’s importance to the gastronomic culture of the region.

‘We want to show our potential, and remain authentic, strong, and globally relevant,’ states Rossi. With more than 10,000 attendees, this message appears to be resonating, and points to a bright future for Istrian wine.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY: Upcoming Association Vinistra events

6–7 November 2026: Decanter Fine Wine Encounter – Featuring wines from Istria – The Landmark Hotel, London
8 February 2027: En Primeur – Launch of the new vintage of Malvazija Istarska – Hotel Esplanade, Zagreb
15–17 February 2027: Wine Paris – Featuring wines from Istria – Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles, Paris
5–9 April 2027: World of Malvasia competition and Vinistra Wine & Spirits Awards – Poreč, Istria
7–9 May 2027: Vinistra wine fair – International wine and winemaking fair – Poreč, Istria
July 2027: Decanter Winners Showcase by Vinistra – Istria