Punta Greca… Where Wine Begins with the Soil…
At the southernmost tip of Istria, just a few kilometers south of Ližnjan, lies one of the most striking vineyards in Croatia – Punta Greca – spanning three and a half hectares. This is the birthplace of a wine that has already achieved legendary status – the Punta Greca Merlot.
Produced in limited quantities, the Punta Greca is one of Croatia’s leading red wines and the flagship label of the Medea Istrian winery.
The soil here is exceptional – a blend of terra rossa (clay) and sand, a testament to an ancient seabed. It is precisely this unique geological foundation, combined with the climate, that has shaped a terroir producing a wine distinctly different from that made in the rest of Istria. On this challenging terrain, 25,000 Merlot vines were planted. The vines are not irrigated; instead, the sand allows water to drain while the clay retains it, and the sea air at night, along with the daytime mistral wind, provides ideal air circulation and temperature balance.
This wine is not merely the result of nature – it has been shaped by excellent knowledge of the soil and dedicated craftsmanship.
To fully understand the soil on which this wine is made, we conducted a series of geotechnical investigations and testing. The investigations included exploratory rotary drilling, engineering and geological mapping of the field, geophysical testing, the laboratory analysis of samples and correlation with historical data. As part of the engineering and geological mapping of the site, we also carried out a geological survey of the wider area, with a focus on morphology and active geomorphological processes.
The goal was clear – to understand the soil in order to craft a wine of the highest possible quality, worthy of Punta Greca itself.
The Punta Greca Merlot is not just a wine – it is a story of a place, of wind and sea, of red earth and sand. Its aromatic profile stands apart from the classic Istrian notes – rich and ripe, yet marked by pronounced minerality and freshness. A limited annual production of no more than 10,000 bottles further underscores its exclusivity.
To visually capture the unique synergy between nature and the expertise of our team, we filmed a Geotech promotional video in the heart of the Punta Greca vineyard. From exploratory drilling and sample collection, as well as dynamic shots of the fieldwork, to spectacular footage of the vineyard bathed in the golden Istrian sun – every frame tells a story.
A story of dedication, of a soil that speaks, and of a wine that bottles the voice of that very soil.
