The Difference Between Teran and Refošk
26 June 2026
"Is Teran the same as Refošk?" is one of the questions we hear most often from visitors getting to know Karst wines for the first time. The short answer: they're related, but not entirely the same thing.
Refošk is a variety, Teran is a name of origin
Refošk is the name of a grape variety — a vine you can plant on the Karst, in Slovenian Istria, in Italian Friuli or in Croatian Istria. Wherever it grows, it remains botanically the same variety (or a very close relative, depending on the local clonal selection).
Teran, on the other hand, isn't the name of a variety, but a name that, on the Karst, denotes a wine made from Refošk in this specific, geographically defined area. Similar to many other European wines tied to their origin, the name Teran tells you something about where the wine comes from, not just which variety it's made from.
This distinction isn't just a formality. Slovenian legislation protects the name Teran as a traditional term tied to Karst production — wine made from Refošk outside this area may not be marketed under the name Teran, only under the variety's name.
Why this matters at all
The name Teran has a long tradition on the Karst and is closely tied to the identity of this place — to terra rossa, limestone and the bora wind that shape the wine's character. Protecting the name is a way to preserve that connection between place and wine formally, too, much as is the case for many other European wines tied to their origin.
For a visitor, this means in practice: if the label says Teran, you know it's Refošk from the Karst. If it just says Refošk, it's the same or a related variety, but from elsewhere — which doesn't necessarily mean a worse wine, just a different origin.
How this applies to us
Our Teran, which we sell under the name Naret, is made from Refošk grown in our vineyards around Pliskovica, on the Karst. The name Naret is therefore our own name for our Teran — much as other cellars often name their Terans after their vineyards, their people or their family story.
You can read more about the wine itself on the Naret – Teran page, and more generally about the variety in What Is Teran?
Frequently asked questions
Can I call any Refošk a Teran?
No. Teran is a name tied to origin — it's used for wine made from Refošk, grown on the Karst under conditions set out in Slovenian legislation on protected traditional terms. Refošk grown elsewhere is sold under the variety's name, not as Teran.
Is Refošk the same variety everywhere it grows?
It's the same or a closely related variety, known in different regions (north-eastern Italy, Slovenian Istria, the Karst, Croatian Istria) under slightly different local names and in somewhat different clonal variants.