Whilst in Croatia, we tried:
Malvasia at Tavern Volte in Buzet/Istria (10/13/16):
1. Vinarija Matijasic Malvasia Istarska Kraljica ZOI: Hrvatska Istra (12.6%) Pekas/Motovun/Hrvatska 2014: Light
gold color; lightly fragrant Malvasia/muscat some earthy/mineral/stony light perfumed talc/herbal almost
RibollaGialla-like nose; quite tart/mineral/stony/chalky lightly fragrant/Malvasia/muscatty slight peppery/
RG-like very food-friendly flavor; very long tart/mineral/stony lightly fragrant/Malvasia/muscatty/floral
perfumed talc totally dry finish; absolutely delicious w/ the food we had.
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Ana, the daughter of the owners (who speak no English) at Agroturizam Dol in Gologorički Dol gave us a few
recomendations of villages to visit further north in Istria. She also recommended the Tavern Volte as a good
place for an afternoon meal near the town of Buzet. (http://www.volte.hr/english.html) It was a bit difficult
to find, in a small village above the town of Buzet, but well worth the journey.
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2. Whilst in Slovenia/Croatia, I tried as many Malvasias as I could. It's a grape that I've come to really love.
Known there as Malvasia d'Istria or Malvasia Istarska. Or Malvasia Istriana in Italy. It has a rather mild
muscatty perfume to it. Not nearly as intensly muscatty as the Malvasia Bianca grown in Calif. Too bad they
don't grow Istarska in Calif. In Friuli/Slovenia, Malvasija is often made as a skin-contact white.
Tom