Decanter Awards: Gold Medal for 9 Consecutive Years. The Trajectory of Croatia's Top Winery, "Fakin Winery."
Guardian of the White Soil: Fakin Winery
Why I Chose This Winery: The Bridge Between "Polako" and Perfectionism
Choosing a winery to partner with is a highly delicate process, especially when introducing wine to the Japanese market. There is a significant cultural divide between the traditional Balkan spirit of "polako" (taking life slowly and going with the flow) and the strict demands of Japanese perfectionism.
For me, trust is the absolute foundation of this business. The moment I opened a sample bottle of Fakin here in Yokohama, the wine spoke volumes on his behalf. I could clearly taste the echoes of Istrian terroir, and there was no doubt about the quality in the glass. It is a wine I have carefully selected through rigorous professional dialogue and analysis.
The Secret Lies in the Soil: "White Istria"
To understand the soul of Croatian wine, there is no better place than the medieval hill town of Motovun. Fakin Estate is located at an altitude of 270 meters above sea level.
The soil here is covered in a whitish, stony "friess" soil, a mixture of marl, sandstone, and limestone that was once an ancient seabed.
Because this harsh soil is poor in surface nutrients, the vines are forced to send their roots deep into the fissures of the bedrock. This struggle produces incredible concentration, deep minerality, and vibrant natural acidity. In the glass, you can literally taste the ancient seabed.
From an Abandoned Forest to Decanter Gold
The modern legacy of Fakin is a story of pure resilience. In 2001, when Marco Fakin was just 13 years old, he worked alongside his father and grandfather to manually clear the abandoned Flaminio vineyards. The plot, planted in 1972, had become completely overgrown with forest.
Rather than pulling out the old vines, they saw the potential of the deeply rooted old vines, and their hard work paid off. Today, Fakin Estate boasts an unprecedented achievement in Croatian wine history: winning the Decanter World Wine Awards Gold Medal for nine consecutive years (2017–2025).
Indigenous Variety Stars
■ Teran (The Soul of Istria)
The flagship red wine, "Il Primo," is elevated into a refined masterpiece with a magnificent balance and moderate acidity, filled with aromas of marasca cherry, tobacco leaf, and bitter chocolate. It pairs perfectly with wild boar and aged cheese.
■ Malvazija Istarska
The "La Prima" label is aged in acacia barrels rather than traditional oak. Natural notes of honey and flowers are enhanced, creating a wine with a strikingly refreshing salinity that makes you feel as though you can taste the breeze of the Adriatic Sea in the glass.
Why "Fakin Good"?
"Viticulture is a serious business, but drinking wine should be fun."
"Quality over quantity (No to More. Yes to Better)"
Exquisite bottles stored at the optimal 16°C–18°C in a cellar in Yokohama.
An invitation to you to taste the true spirit of Istria.
【Notice Regarding Images】
The images shown are AI-generated concepts created to clearly convey the aromas and flavor characteristics of the wine.
These are visual representations of tasting notes and do not reflect the actual ripeness of the grapes or the precise balance of the wine.