When coming to Croatia for a holiday, you will be more than satisfied with the local cuisine. So after you choose one of your Istrian villas for a vacation, there are some things you need to know about Istrians.
They are proud of their peninsula, olives, olive oil and of course – their wine. And for centuries Istrians have been making good wine especially from a sort called Teran.
The specific sort of Teran is the second red sort represented in Croatia, first is Merlot, however, Teran is becoming the wine of the future. But all about that read in the text below.
Teran was first mentioned in the 14th century as a luxury wine served only to the high class. For many years Teran was the most cultivated wine sort in Istria and because of its strength, it was used in almost every household in Istria, from farmworkers to nobility.
WHAT SORT OF WINE IS TERAN?
Teran is a red grape and wine variety, in Croatia mostly found in western Istria. It is a traditional sort of wine that has been cultivated for many years, and still remains the most common red wine in this part of the country.
This sort of Teran grapes are ruby red, almost purple and have a strong full taste. The grapes are cultivated in large clusters with compacted berries that have very resistant skin. The wine is because of that very rich, strong and highly aromatic.
The quality of the wine depends on the location and the conditions in the vineyard. The grapes need a lot of sun, not a lot of water and they are picked usually when fully ripe.
All of those conditions combined together and you get a royal red, almost purple liquid with a fruity aroma with hints of berries and pepper, high acidity and elevated tannins and reasonable alcohol content from 12 – 13%.
HOW TO ENJOY TERAN
Teran is mostly enjoyed as a young wine and served alongside traditional Istrian food such as “istarski pršut” (dried ham), strong Istrian cheeses, red meat and stew dishes. Except for drinking it alone, Teran wine is sometimes used to make blend wine with other sorts, so in the last couple of years Istrian winemakers have started producing exceptional rose wines and sparkling wine from Teran grapes.
However the list of how to use Teran doesn’t stop with blending wines, there is a special delicacy called “supa istriana”. It is made from Teran wine, bread, seasoned with olive oil – of course, salt and sugar. Trust us – this unique meal needs to be on your – to try when in Istria list.
The wine needs to be served at almost 20°C, to allow it to show its full potential, and it is not a wine that is drank cold.
* Special tip* for true wine lovers – open the bottle of Teran and let it sit for at least half and hour before pouring into the glass. If you are a professional wine lover then you surely have a decanter in which you pour the wine and let it sit for a while. After that, enjoy the perfect rhapsody of taste.
When you pour it in the glass give it a twirl and you will notice purple tones bursting from the glass.
When the wine is young it has a specific flavor of berries, however when it is aged properly (preferably in some-kind of wooden barrels) it becomes even more rich in taste and in tannins. Because of the high amount of tannin in the wine structure, and on the specific conditions where it is cultivated, it is strongly valued that Teran helps in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and aging.
Surely it will not stop here as this special sort has great potential and it is still a hidden jewel in Istrian wines.
OUR 3 SELECTIONS OF ISTRIAN TERAN
1. KOZLOVIC, ST. LUCIA NOIR 2012
The famous Kozlovic winery is one of the best in Istria and their Santa Lucia red Teran wine was awarded with a Bronze medal at the International wine challenge in 2016. It is best served with red meat and hard cheese.
2. CORONICA – GRAN TERAN
Teran from Coronica is not made every year, only when it is the right time, this is why it makes it special and rich in taste.
Their 2008 Gran Teran was by far the most successful year and it is still talked about.
Serve it with traditional Istrian prosciutto.
3. TRAPAN -TERRA MARE
Terra Mare from Trapan is from the year 2012 which was a dry year without a single rain drop for more than 160 days.
However with the right winemakers this particular year is one of the best Teran wines out there.
It is best served with Istrian prosciutto, red meat, cheese or baked tuna.
As you can notice from the Kozlovic and Trapan wineries that the year 2012 was an excellent year for the this sort of wine. In the near future Teran can become the most important sort of red wine because of its durance in the global warming conditions.
This is why you should definitely try Teran when in Istria and let us know what you think.
CHECK OUT OUR FEATURED OFFER
To find out more about MasterCard SecureCode go to 
