In the center of Istria lies Motovun, an acropolis known for its melange of mysticism, mystery and magic. Months later, it holds me in a magnetic grasp. The hot wind of August blows dry in Istria, flinging dust devils to interrupt the sun. Motovun shimmers and undulates in the distance. It’s a medieval mirage, atop the hill the Venetians could only take by force instead of politics in the 13th century. Natalia has brought me here on a whirlwind of her own. As we careen through the countryside in Continue Reading
Meeting Malvasia
“But here, enough talking, let’s taste,” Ivica Matosevic smiles as he pours his Malvasia. We’re sitting at a picnic table on the veranda of Ivica’s wine cellar in Kruncici, the middle of Istria. It’s the beginning of my love affair with Malvasia. “The only reason I got into this business was so I could play more music and drink more wine with my friends.” - Ivica Matosevic To hear him tell the story, Ivica Matosevic (pronounced ee-VEET-sa ma-TOE-sheh-vitch) is an unlikely vintner. While Continue Reading