engleski

Viticultural sites and their valorisation in Istra (Croatia)

Almost the whole territory of Istra has suitable natural conditions and millenniums long tradition of wine growing. Viticulture was and stayed economically the most important branch of agricultural production. Viticultural locations in Istra are characterised by several factors as natural, productional, social and administrative. Last hundred years sociopolitical circumstances were not supporting viticultural development. By end of the 19. century vine stocks were planted on one third of whole arable land surface, by the cadastar in 1880. Istra had 33.847 hectares of mature vineyards (Vivoda, 2001). Regardless the wealth and importance of natural conditions, different states that crossed through Istra in time, had agrarian policies which caused a significant decrease in viticulture locations, so in 2001. Istra had 8.277 hectares of vineyards (Governmental Office for Statistics, 2001). Beside economical losses and non used resources, also the land devastation occurred – the land of vineyards and wine was left without pictures vineyard sites, and its known identity. Today intensive programs for vine stock planting and landscape renovation would be unfortunately stopped by Croatia entering the European Union. This paper presents possible administrative solutions for viticulture spreading and data on tipical viticultural locations and wine from indigenous grape varieties in Istra. Beside returning historical characteristics in landscapes, it would possibly enable a strong revalorisation of viticulture as a unique socioeconomic and ecological branch of agriculture.

viticulture; valorisation; typical sites

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