In the village of Čepić, in the municipality of Oprtalj, a short drive from Motovun, the Coslovich family has been making wine for as long as anyone can remember. For generations it was made for the family table, and the brothers Valmi and Daniel Coslovich turned that tradition into a small family winery which today, under the name Coslovich Istrian Wines, bottles eight labels and supplies restaurants and shops across Istria.
The vineyards cover about five hectares on several sites above Čepić, on red and grey soils, at altitudes between 360 and 475 metres. Malvazija Istarska and Teran are the main varieties, joined by yellow Muscat, Chardonnay, Merlot, Refošk and Cabernet Sauvignon. Altitude and exposure to the wind mean the grapes ripen healthy here with less spraying than in lower and damper areas, and that is the foundation of the house philosophy: the wines are made with indigenous yeasts, minimal added sulphur and no filtration, and all work in the vineyard and cellar, from pruning to racking, follows the lunar calendar.
The range opens with the fresh Malvazija Bianca, continues with the Glavizza Muscat and the white blend Cuvée Blanc of Malvazija, Muscat and Chardonnay. The rosé is made from Teran, while the reds are the Terra Magica Teran and the barrique blend Kripak of Teran, Merlot, Refošk and Cabernet Sauvignon. A special place belongs to the macerated Malvazija Santa Maria, which spends fifteen days on the skins and six months on its own lees before ageing for two and a half years in wooden barrels.
The highest vineyard in Istria and gold from Portorož
In 2020 Valmi Coslovich planted a hectare of Malvazija, Chardonnay and Muscat on Zelenac hill above Čepić, at 475 metres above sea level, on a site considered the highest vineyard in Istria. The hill had been overgrown with scrub for half a century, and clearing it revealed dry-stone walls and eight vines between one hundred and one hundred and fifty years old, next to the old Roman road that linked Trieste and Pula. The first harvest from that planting came in 2024 as a new label, Malvazija 475, which won a gold medal at the 28th Istrian Malvazija Festival in Portorož in March 2026.
The Coslovich family have also proved to be good travellers. In 2018 they were the only Croatian winery at the wine festival in Obrenovac, and in 2019 the only Istrian producer at the Terroirs natural wine festival in Belgrade, where Santa Maria and Terra Magica drew the most attention.
Besides wine, the family produces extra virgin olive oil, cold-pressed from hand-picked olives, as well as vinegar and truffle products, and the tasting room in Čepić seats up to fifty guests, with free parking. The winery regularly hosts its own events, such as open days with live music and local bites under the olive trees, and tastings and visits are arranged by appointment.
Website: coslovich-wines.com
