Clai Winery in Brajki: skin-contact Malvasia and aged Refošk

At Clai’s tasting room, visitors can compare skin-contact Malvasia Istriana with aged Refošk, two markedly different styles from certified-organic vineyards. Walk-in tastings are available from Wednesday to Sunday, while the food-paired tasting must be booked in advance.

Skin-contact Malvasia and aged Refošk

For the white wines, the juice ferments together with the grape skins, giving the wines deeper colour, structure and tannin. At Clai, fermentation starts spontaneously without selected yeast or enzymes, followed by ageing on the lees in large wooden vessels. These wines are often described as orange wines, although the length of skin contact and ageing varies between labels.

Sv. Jakov and Baracija Malvazija are made from Malvasia Istriana, while Ottocento white combines Malvasia with Pinot Gris. Refošk is the basis of Brombonero and Baracija, while Ottocento red blends it with Merlot. At Vinistra 2026, Brombonero Refošk 2020 scored 95 points and was named the best aged Refosco.

Organic vineyards and the current winemaker

The estate farms around ten hectares of vineyards and five hectares of olive groves near Krasica. The vineyards lie at roughly 200 metres above sea level on marl-rich soil. The entire production has been certified organic from the outset, without systemic herbicides, insecticides or fungicides.

Giorgio and Vesna Clai founded the winery after returning from Trieste to Brajki, releasing the first Ottocento wines from the 2002 vintage. They retired in 2023, when responsibility for the wines passed to South African oenologist Timothy Whitfield.

Walk-in and pre-booked tastings

On Mondays and Tuesdays, the winery is open from 10 am to 3 pm for wine sales only. From Wednesday to Sunday, between 10 am and 5 pm, visitors can choose a walk-in tasting, a pre-booked tasting or simply purchase wine.

A walk-in tasting costs €15 for three wines or €25 for five. The pre-booked tasting includes three or five wines, bread, cheese, cured meats and Terrebianche olive oil, priced at €35 or €45 per person. Wine selection depends on availability, and groups of more than six must make arrangements in advance. Free parking is available.

Distance from Bale: 51 minutes driving (60.7 km)

Address: Brajki 105, Krasica, 52460 Buje, Istria, Croatia

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