The culinary treasures of Istria – delicious local produce that fully respects the environment

"Among Flos Olei’s “The Best,” this Savudrija-Salvore estate earned Producer of the Year thanks to Mate Vekić’s hand-harvested olives that are rushed to a cutting-edge mill the same day for purity and freshness. Reviving a frost-scarred, historically disrupted region, Vekić planted some 25,000 trees toward the end of the last century—beginning this life’s work at 75—drawing on Tuscan inspiration to cultivate Frantoio, Leccino and Pendolino and later refocusing on native Buža, Istarska Bjelica and Karbonaca; on his Zambrattia farm, every choice seeks balance between plant needs and soil potential. Signature bottles include Bianca Bellezza (Bianchera), intensely green and fruity on the nose with freshly cut grass, tomato leaf and almond leading to a delicate start that builds into persistent, harmonious bitter-spicy tones; Trasparenza Marina (Leccino and Pendolino), green-fresh and nut-scented with a sweet entry and gently bitter finish; and Timbro Istriano (Frantoio), whose sweet-bitter equilibrium crescendos into an elegant, explosively spicy finish with memories of green banana, fresh almond and hints of artichoke and black pepper." - Annalisa Leopolda Cavaleri