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Vinakoper presents a special-edition Malvasia from the Koper line, dedicated to the language and the cultural heritage of Istria.
On the occasion of Slovenian Cultural Day, Vinakoper, in partnership with the Science and Research Centre Koper (ZRS Koper), presents an exclusive special edition of Malvasia from the Koper line, paying tribute to the Slovenian language and the cultural heritage of Istria.
As part of the project, playfully named Malvasia on the Tongue, Vinakoper is symbolically changing the varietal name of its best-selling and most popular wine. The iconic Malvasia Koper bottle, highly recognisable among customers, will feature one of the selected Slovenian words instead of the grape variety name. Each word conveys meaning, emotion, and identity — reflecting both the beauty of the Slovenian language and the character of Malvasia itself. The characteristic sun on the label, the distinctive yellow stripe, screw cap, and the official wine declaration ensure the bottle remains clearly recognisable.
“We are delighted to be part of a project that clearly communicates that language is a living cultural heritage preserved through use, meaning, and emotion. The Slovenian and Istrian languages are not merely tools of communication, but spaces of identity, belonging, and intergenerational memory,” explains Borut Fakin, Director of Vinakoper.
“We are proud that, through a wine that is part of everyday life, we can contribute something meaningful to the language and culture of Istria. We see this project as a sincere collaboration between winemaking, science, and the community, and we believe it marks just the beginning of our long-term commitment to ensuring that Vinakoper remains an ambassador of Istria and Slovenia — through language as well.”
The project is being developed within the broader platform Only One Istria (Samo ena je Istra), through which Vinakoper promotes the long-term co-creation of a sustainable, connected, and culturally aware region. The platform brings together the people, places, economy, and values of Istria, encouraging initiatives that engage the community and contribute to positive change.
Purpose of the Project: Preserving Cultural Heritage
The Malvasia on the Tongue project was developed gradually and thoughtfully in partnership with ZRS Koper.
“Such partnerships demonstrate that science is not an end in itself, but is strongest when connected to the local environment,” says Prof. Dr. Rado Pišot, Director of ZRS Koper. “We consistently provide the business sector with expert support in transferring scientific knowledge into practice, aligned with business orientations and goals. Our cooperation with Vinakoper, which began years ago with the establishment of the Institute of Viticulture and Oenology at ZRS Koper, represents an exemplary case of long-term, mutually beneficial collaboration between science and business.”
In the first phase, researchers conducted a corpus analysis of Slovenian literary heritage and compiled a selection of 86 Slovenian words with a strong positive emotional charge and suitability for a wine label. In the second phase, two focus groups — comprising participants of different generations — evaluated how individual words emotionally connect with wine, Istrian identity, and the experience of Malvasia.
Based on this process, a final selection of 12 words was made, which will appear on the bottles: free, magical, passionate, harmony, noble, springlike, youthful, precious, happy, gentle, sincere, and seductive. Each bottle will feature one of these words instead of the word “Malvasia.” Consumers will thus be able to choose the wine according to their own feelings, mood, or the meaning they wish to convey — perhaps even as a thoughtful and personal gift.
“Malvasia is never one-dimensional. Each vintage and each glass reveals a different face. That is precisely why the selected words resonate so closely with this wine. It is gentle yet seductive, youthful yet noble. In these words, we recognise the character of the wine, the terroir, the climate, and the spirit of Istria,” adds Vinakoper’s Chief Oenologist, Boštjan Zidar.
The limited-edition bottles of Malvasia on the Tongue will be available from 8 February onwards in major retail chains across Slovenia and at the Vinakoper wine boutique.
Through this project, Vinakoper invites reflection on the meaning of language and respect for cultural heritage — and on how the Slovenian language remains alive, even when spoken without words, through a raised glass. At the same time, it encourages reflection on the power of words in everyday relationships and how kind, warm, and positive expressions can foster closeness and bring greater attentiveness and humanity into society.
This invitation will continue beyond the launch of the limited edition through content and activations on Vinakoper’s social media channels, where the “wine with a word” becomes an invitation to conversation, choice, and shared experience — at home, in good company, and over a glass of Malvasia. A QR code on the back label of these expressive bottles will lead to the project website with further details.
More about the scientific background of the Malvasia on the Tongue project and the selection of words is available on the project website.
