This year, I came across two times to Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery. Firstly, in May 2023, when Val Gambalera 2015 of the Meneghetti winery won the Grand Gold at the international Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (CMB) in Porec (Croatia). Secondly, it was a recent article of Alicia Miller in Decanter about "the Mediterranean-chic environs of Meneghetti Wine Hotel, on Croatia’s Istrian peninsula", and I felt interested in to find more about "Meneghetti", Istrian wine, winery and hotel.
As Alicia Miller mentions, "Meneghetti was designed to celebrate the region’s long wine history. Vineyards encircle the estate and, by the pool, rows of ripening grapes are in view when you relax with a good book. Likewise, you’ll see them from the grounds of the private villas, which exude a rustic but sophisticated Provençal-style mood. Elsewhere, green vines creep across the stone exterior of farm-style buildings, and wind over pergolas."
But this is rather a nowadays picture. The modern story of Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery begins more than 20 years ago, when Miroslav Plišo and his wife ROMANA KAJFEŽ have discovered an abandoned farm building and small estate near Bale on the Istrian peninsula. The farm's name comes from an Italian called Meneghetti, probably from Venice, who built houses and granary, planted vineyards and olive groves, to produce food for Austrian soldiers in early 19th century, which century-old Istrian stone became wild and intact in early-2000s.
Meneghetti is now a Relais & Châteaux property, combines nature, art, gastronomy, and hospitality whilst emulating the Istrian lifestyle, architecture and local spirit. Art Plugged mentions that the "two important ingredients of Meneghetti’s special formula" are food and wine. The estate's restaurant is recommended by the The MICHELIN Guide as "aesthetically more modern than others, though all are quite luxurious" both Meneghetti and Olivetto restaurants.
Concerning the wine portfolio, the Meneghetti offers are at the top of the Croatian wine range. Although small, it produces wines which are now recognizable across Central and Southeastern Europe. The prestigious American wine magazine Wine Spectator awarded a Wine Glass, that is "The award for excellence", to Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery. Modern winery, built in 2022, has the capacity to produce around 100 000 bottles per year including sparkling and still wine (red, rose and white wines). The vineyards consist of roughly 12 hectares and 2023 harvest of grape varieties, like Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Istrian grape Malvazija, suggests a first-class wine production close to capacity. Malvazija (or Malvasia) is an ancient family of grapes that includes a diverse collection of noble varieties, capable of producing wine of any feasible color in dry, sparkling and sweet styles. (Wine-Searcher)
According to Alen Britvarević, Director of Meneghetti Winery, the wines are also exported to the USA, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Norway, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, including development into two new countries: Japan and the Netherlands.
For oenophiles seeking more variety during a longer stay, Miroslav Plišo says that "Meneghetti is a wine hotel first and foremost," referencing a selection of more than 100 of the finest wines found throughout the globe that include Maisons de Champagne Piper-Heidsieck et Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires 1995 (France), Giuseppe Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2007 (Italy) and Weingut A. Christmann Idig Riesling 2016 (Germany).
So, what is Meneghetti? Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery means a great history, unique tradition and set of values, a true beauty in Mediterranean, offering premium, world-renowned and award-winning wines. (Decanter, The Telegraph, Diplomacy&Commerce, Forbes)