“Wine is the reflection of the love you give it.”

The young winemaker Tina builds a wine story that is not based only on vines, but on relationships – with the land, with people, and with Izola. Together with her husband Denis, she has created the brand Vina Markovič and runs the family estate, where wines are made with great dedication, precision, and respect for nature. What they do is not just viticulture, but a conscious choice – and a connection with a place that keeps calling them back.

When choosing nature becomes a mission

Tina Markovič (today Jurkovič) has been connected to viticulture since birth. She says it was “placed in her cradle,” even if it did not always make her happy. She grew up on a farm among vines and tractors, so in her childhood, farming felt natural. Later – as a teenager – she, like many, did not want to do physical work. But after finishing secondary school, her path led her back. She was looking for a profession connected with nature and chose to study agronomy at the Biotechnical Faculty.

During this time, she met her husband Denis, with whom she was already dreaming of working together one day. “We started helping my father in the cellar and in the vineyards, with the desire to eventually take over the family farm. My father gave us this opportunity, but also made it clear that we had to take things into our own hands and do it our way. And that is exactly what we did,” Tina explains.

Almost ten years ago, they transformed the former Markovič Farm into a new story and the brand Vina Markovič. Their very first wine made completely on their own (the 2019 vintage) brought them the champion title for the best Malvasia at the Malvasia Festival in Portorož. “That gave us wind in our sails, as it proved that we were on the right path.”

Wine born out of relationships

Everything starts in the vineyard. “For me, the vineyard is something alive, something you must have a relationship with. Much depends on nature, and you don’t have all the strings in your hands. If a vineyard is neglected, it is already a sign that something is wrong,” Tina is convinced. On the estate, almost all the work is done by hand, including harvesting. “Harvesting is hard work. It’s not easy to find people willing to pick grapes, so we are grateful to have found a wonderful team of retired people from Istria who come to help us every year. With them, the harvest is also a beautiful social event,” Tina smiles.

Even though they have about 10 hectares of vineyards and another 2 newly planted, Tina prefers to do other tasks: “If possible, I avoid working among the vines, because we have people who are better at it. I focus mainly on marketing, the cellar, deliveries, groups… because an estate is not just a vineyard.”

Vina Markovič wines are not yet organically certified, but that does not mean they do not strive for quality and healthy grapes. “For now, we work with conventional methods, but we do our best to keep the grapes healthy. Cleanliness and order are extremely important for Denis and me,” Tina insists.

An exceptional location, fresh wines

The special feature of Vina Markovič wines is their vineyards, located on the southern slope below the Izola hospital, with a beautiful view of the sea. “Here, grapes ripen quickly: in summer, sugar levels rise very fast. That’s why we are almost always among the first in Slovenia to start harvesting,” Tina explains.

Their main variety is Malvasia, followed by Refosco, Chardonnay (mainly for sparkling wines), and Yellow Muscat. Malvasia means the most to Tina: “I’m most proud of it, because it is so full, aromatic, fresh. And the location gives it that extra something. It’s a pleasure to taste it and know it’s just right.”

Tina admits she is very demanding when it comes to selecting grapes for bottling – only the wines that truly convince her go into bottles. Sometimes, together with her husband, she creates the final Malvasia by blending grapes from different vineyards.

Currently, they produce around 60,000 liters of wine annually, all for the domestic market: mostly for restaurants, with the rest sold directly from the estate. Tina says they do not want to grow in size, but in quality: “We want to be recognized for our wine, not for quantity. We prefer depth to breadth and want to remain boutique.”

Wine opens doors and conversations

Wine tastings at the estate are organized by appointment. Tina enjoys taking visitors through the vineyards, showing them the cellar, and explaining the processes – all with a view of Izola, the sea, and the surrounding hills. A unique panorama that almost always takes people’s breath away. “I want to show people that wine is not just something you pour into a glass. It takes months to make, and it is the fruit of hard work, love, and relationships,” she says, adding that every vintage is different – just like we are.

They also happily participate in events. They are most loyal to the Pier of Tastes, where they have been present since the very beginning: “This is our event, happening at home, in Izola. Visitors really appreciate meeting Izola’s winemakers. It’s interesting to hear what people say when they taste the wine – and how conversations open up. Sometimes I get the best feedback in those short exchanges.”

Izola that enchants

Although Tina now lives in Škofije, Izola always calls her back. “It never lets me go. With my husband, we come here every day, and every morning we start with the view: coffee above the vineyards, watching the town. This viewpoint is truly idyllic. Even though, personally, my favorite is on the other side, above Belvedere.”

For her, Izola is not just a town, but the place of her childhood, her work, her family – a space where everything intertwines.

If she had to describe Izola to someone who has never visited, she would say: “A small town on a peninsula, where everything is within reach – wine, oil, fish… and people. Friendly, genuine. Izola is warm.”

Izola is also a place where wine is not placed in a showcase, but offered at the table. A place where you can invite people to taste, to ask questions, and then continue on their way – calm and satisfied.

Tina believes that if wine had a voice, it would say: “Thank you for respecting me.” And she would reply: “Stay as you are – and keep speaking on our behalf.”

Source of Izola’s flavors – stories of people who, with their hands, knowledge, and heart, shape the taste of Izola.