The Institute for Agriculture and Tourism in Poreč, in collaboration with the Municipality of Matulji, launched the “Očuvanje autohtonih sorti – Jarbola” project in 2003, with the aim of the long-term preservation, protection and economic revalorisation of the old native grape variety known as “Jarbola”. Vines of the Jarbola variety were located and marked at several sites around Zvoneć, followed by two years of morphological measurements and basic chemical analyses of the must and wine. A health and genetic analysis of the vines was carried out, buds were taken from healthy vines for grafting, and a mother vineyard was planted. Based on the results obtained, Jarbola Bijela was included on the National List of Recognised Grape Cultivars in 2004 and designated as a recommended grape cultivar for the Hrvatsko Primorje sub-region.
