Cattunar Winery

The Cattunar family has been rooted for generations in the terroir of western Istria, with a rich tradition of viticulture and winemaking. Their estate has continuously expanded, reaching an impressive 56 hectares of vineyards today. Most of these vineyards are planted with indigenous Istrian grape varieties such as Malvasia, Teran, Momjan Muscat, and Rose Muscat, along with internationally renowned varieties like Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc.
Cattunar wines today encompass diverse styles and price ranges, remaining a true family business. Alongside Franco, his wife Vesna plays a crucial role in the business, while their daughter Nicol and son Edi represent the new generation, envisioning their future in the constant improvement of grape and wine quality. Their most significant project, 4 Terre, emphasizes their commitment to the authenticity of the terroir.
In collaboration with scientists from the Faculty of Agriculture in Zagreb and the Polytechnic of Rijeka (Poreč department), they identified four distinct types of soil characteristic of western Istria: Žmergo, Škrinjara, Grum, and Škarline. Since 2010, they have been producing four selective Malvasia wines from these soils: Gray soil, Black soil, Red soil, and White soil. Each of these wines is distinctly different.
They are proud to be the first in Istria to precisely define climates (micro-locations within a single vineyard) whose wines, despite being from the same vintage and variety, differ significantly. They believe that the future of top-quality Istrian viticulture and winemaking lies in the most authentic expression of individual sites and microclimates.