MonteIstra Winery

In the mid-1990s, Ivan Nino Jakovčić, then the Prefect of Istria, was a leading figure in the revitalization of the Istrian wine scene. With a visionary approach, he, along with a few other Istrian politicians, aimed to transform Istria into Croatia’s premier wine and olive oil region. Thanks to the efforts of dedicated winemakers and olive growers, this vision became a reality.
As his political career drew to a close, Nino couldn’t remain idle and turned his attention to agriculture. Today, he is a successful winemaker and producer of indigenous garlic. In 2023, he publicly presented his wines for the first time at Vinistra, attracting many curious wine enthusiasts to his booth. He sources his grapes from trusted producers in top vineyards and has hired an excellent oenologist.
Under the label “Wine MonteIstra,” he offers three wines: Malvazija Istarska 365, which he believes should be enjoyed every day of the year; the sparkling wine “24,” perfect for any hour of the day; and a muscat. Additionally, Nino has purchased an old, neglected agricultural cooperative building in Završje, a small village between Grožnjan and Oprtalj, where he plans to establish a wine museum dedicated to his late father.