Wine Queens, ambassadors of wine growers and winemakers, are an indispensable symbol of every wine-growing region. We are proud that Julija was awarded the title of Wine Queen of Slovenian Istria in 2017 and 2018. Wine Queens spread the culture and knowledge of wine.  and as Julija said: “Wine is to Istria as blood is to our bodies. It is truly a special honor and responsibility to wear the crown of this most beautiful wine region of ours. The royal mandate has endowed me with many memories that I will cherish forever. One of the main tasks I have set for myself is to spread wine culture, especially among young people, so that they care about the wine they drink and know where it comes from. In addition, I wanted to raise the profile of the Wine Queen in Slovenian Istria and show people that we are chosen for our knowledge and passion for wine. The Wine Queen is a valuable piece in the mosaic that contributes to the joint promotion and development of our region. During my reign, I have also had the honor of meeting many wine professionals, to whom I am grateful for all the knowledge they have shared with me. I have also met the other Wine Queens with whom we have forged a network of acquaintances and friendships.”

As her Queen’s Wine, Julia chose our young 2017 Refošk. She wanted to emphasize how important Refošk is, as it helps most Istrian winemakers make a living, and how powerful wine becomes as soon as St. Martin baptizes it as young wine. Refošk captures the aroma of fruitiness that fills the cellar at harvest time, and the wine is so full that you can almost scoop it out with a spoon. Her choice was also confirmed by several juries, as that year we were awarded the Champion of the Refošk at the Vinistra in Poreč and the Champion of the Young Refošk at the Refošk Festival in Marezige.

You can also watch video blogs recorded during the reign.