About us

The family-run vineyard and wine cellar of Marijan Arman are located in the Western Istrian winegrowing area, in the immediate vicinity of Poreč, in the Vižinada district, specifically in the village of Narduči.The beautiful views of the walls of ancient Grožnjan, just across the valley of the Mirna River, whose southern slopes bear the constant and inexhaustible source of all our existential and creative inspirations, will leave you breathless with pleasure...

While you are treating your palate to a drop or two of the indigenous Istrian Malvazija, you can be strolling through immense, winding, ancient or newly planted vineyards and olive groves, catching glimpses in the distance of the sea and the Alps, free to lose yourself in dimensions of time, and far from everyday worries and the milling city crowds.

Our history

Instead of saying that we grow grapes, in fact we grow and learn together with and from them. We don't just produce wine, we live it. Love for making wine has been a part of the family consciousness from the distant 1880s, when our great-great grandfather planted the first vineyard. The grapevine has always represented the basis of existence for our family, and in time it evolved into our reason for life. The greatest transformations occurred in the mid-1990s, in the period known as the "Wine Spring". We were among the first enthusiasts to modernize our cellars and turn to a modern, higher quality production of wine. When the first awards came in from both Croatian and international wine fairs, we were certain that we had finally dispelled the myth that Istrians were winegrowers but not winemakers. We think we are practicing the most beautiful art in the world – the art of wine.

The cellar

The natural extension of our vineyards is the modernly equipped cellar, partly underground. This is an important element in the production of wine, as the picked grapes can be taken in a very short time to the cellar for processing. The cellar is equipped with modern technology for the controlled fermentation of white and red must.

Our favorite section is the area with the barrique barrels, small oak barrels in which wine is matured, both red (Teran, Cabernet Sauvignon, Refošk, Merlot) and white (Malvazija, Chardonnay).

Harvesting the grapes

The harvest begins in the middle of September. Testing for the proper ripeness of the grapes begins at the end of August. When it is confirmed that the level of sugar and acidity is ideal and stable, the harvest starts.

We believe that man is an important and irreplaceable link in the life cycle of grapevines, and all harvesting is done by hand. The grapes are then taken immediately afterwards to the cellar for processing.

Vineyards

Our vineyards extend over the gentle slopes of the Western Istrian winegrowing region, right along the valley of the Mirna River. They face southwest, ensuring the maximum amount of sunlight.

A special feature of this location in relation to certain other parts of the Istrian winegrowing regions, in addition to the micro-climate and the mixture of grey and white soils, is the presence of a flysh substratum, which gives a special note to our wines.

Wine tasting

The pleasure involved in tasting wines in the immediate vicinity of their place of origin, poured by the winemakers themselves is an experience that should not be missed. Our wine tasting area is located in the cellar and has room for fifty people.

Other than wine, local pršut (air-dried ham) and cheeses, the pleasure is further increased by the mellow tones of a hundred year old piano. Wine tasting can be arranged by appointment.