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IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Viticultural sites and their valorisation in Istria (Croatia)

Viticultural sites and their valorisation in Istria (Croatia)

Abstract

[English version below]

Pratiquement tout le territoire d’Istrie possède les bonnes conditions naturelles pour la viticulture, laquelle dans ce lieu a une tradition millénaire. La viticulture était et reste toujours la plus importante branche de production agraire et d’économie. Les sites viticoles en Istrie sont caractérisés par des diverses conditions naturelles.
Le développement de la viticulture est le résultat de nombreuses circonstances, tout particulièrement naturelles, productives, sociales et administratives. Les événements sociopolitiques du siècle passé n’ont pas favorisé le développement de la viticulture. Vers la fin de 19ème siècle un tiers de toutes les superficies agraires cultivables ont été plantés de vignes, plus précisément selon le cadastre de l’an 1880 en Istrie il y avait au total 33.847 ha couvertes de plantation des vignes (Vivoda, 2001). Malgré des conditions naturelles avantageuses et favorables, la politiques agraire des différents états a résulté d’une diminution de surfaces couvertes par des vignes, lesquelles en 2001 était réduites en seulement à 8.277 ha (Drzavni Zavod za Statistiku 2001). Les dégâts économiques et le non usage de ressources sont également accompagnés de détérioration de paysage. Istrie, le pays des vignes et du vin est resté sur le majorité de son territoire sans ce paysage vinicole et ainsi imputé de son identité principale. Les programmes actuels d’intensification de viticulture et le retour de paysages autochtone dominés par la présence des vignes sont menacés d’arrêt par les barrières administratives lors de l’entrée de la Croatie dans l’Union Européen.
Ce travail propose des solutions administratives possibles mais expose aussi des donnés sur la recherche des sites vinicoles typiques ainsi que les caractéristiques sur les vins autochtones d’Istrie. Mis a part le retour de particularités historiques a des paysages d’Istrie une forte valorisation de la viticulture en tant que secteur d’agriculture, branche socio économique et écologique non remplaçable est envisagé.

Almost the whole territory of Istria has suitable natural conditions and millenniums long tradition of vine growing. Viticulture was and stayed economically the most important branch of agricultural production. Viticultural locations in Istria are characterised by several factors as natural, productional, social and administrative. Last hundred years, sociopolitical circumstances were not supporting viticultural development. By the end of the 19. century vine stocks were planted on one third of whole arable land surface; by the cadastre in 1880. Istria had 33.847 hectares of mature vineyards (Vivoda, 2001).
Regardless the wealth and importance of natural conditions, different states that crossed through Istria in time, had agrarian policies which caused a significant decrease in viticulture locations, so in 2001. Istria had 8.277 hectares of vineyards (Governmental Office for Statistics, 2001).
Beside economical losses and non used resources, also the land devastation occurred – the land of vineyards and wine was left without pictures vineyard sites, and its known identity.
Today intensive programs for vine stock planting and landscape renovation would be unfortunately stopped by Croatia entering the European Union.
This paper presents possible administrative solutions for viticulture spreading and data on typical viticultural locations and wine from indigenous grape varieties in Istria.
Beside returning historical characteristics in landscapes, it would possibly enable a strong revalorisation of viticulture as a unique socioeconomic and ecological branch of agriculture.

DOI:

Publication date: January 12, 2022

Issue: Terroir 2004

Type: Article

Authors

B. Sladonja (1), D. Persuric (1), A. Milotic (1), G. and G. Cargnello (2)

(1) Institute of Agriculture and Tourism, Porec, C. Huguesa 8, p.p. 31, 52 440 Porec, Croatia
(2) SOP Tecniche colturali – Istituto Sperimentale di Viticoltura – Conegliano – Treviso, Italy

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IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2004

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