Dimitri Brecevic (Piquentum wines) is young winemaker born in France who 10 years ago decided to start his own wine production in Istria. He studied in Bordeaux and has international winemaking carrier, but do not even bother asking him about Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon. He believes only in grape varieties indigenous to Istria – Istrian Malvasia, Teran and Refošk – and produces wines that receive a lot of buzz lately. Dimitri does not use selected yeasts and he ferments his Malvasia at a bit higher temperatures (19-20 C) than in most Istrian wineries. Result? Aroma of his Malvasia is less intense and fruity, but more subtle and earthy in the mouth. His Teran is a cultivated beast while there are plenty of juicy red fruits in Refošk.

If you pass near Buzet don’t miss visiting his wine cellar. The entrance looks mysterious, like access to a top-secret underground military facility – it’s an old water cistern made in the 30s when Italian administration ruled here.

Piquentum winery is located below the old town of Buzet

Dimitri talks about his wine to Swiss tourists last spring

Old water cistern made under Mussolini regime is now home of Piquentum winery

Barriques with teran