The association called Vinistra suggests that the ministry should hire first-rate experts from the economy and agriculture, notably from oenology to address this matter.

Vinistra said in a statement that it would encourage the local and international institutions and experts acquainted with the historical, economic and scientific aspects pertaining to the Teran or Terrano wine in order to collect materials that can corroborate arguments for challenging Slovenia's exclusive right.

Vinistra, whose leadership held a meeting on Tuesday, reiterated its commitment to cross-border cooperation and good-neighbourly relations.

Croatian Agriculture Minister Tihomir Jakovina said that many omissions had occurred during Croatia's negotiations with the EU on its membership and that Croatia failed to respond in a timely fashion in 2009 when it was necessary to appeal against Slovenia's request to treat Terrano as being a wine with the protected designation of origin and as being recognised as a Slovenian wine,

"Now, we are doing our best, within limited manoeuvring space, to protect the interests of Croatian producers," Jakovina said on Wednesday when asked by reporters on the matter.

This past Monday, Jakovina held talks with his Slovenian counterpart Dejan Zidan on this issue, during a conference in Luxembourg, but Croatia did not come across understanding from Slovenia to seek a compromise solution to submit a joint application to protect its Teran wine.

Slovenia's Agriculture Minister Dejan Zidan insists that Teran (or Terrano) wine, made of grapes cultivated in Slovenia's Kras region, had obtained the protected geographical status in compliance with the European Union's regulations, and that Croatia's Teran wine cannot be sold in Slovenia or other countries as it had not been covered by the EU quality scheme.

European Commission spokesman for agriculture and rural development Roger Waite said on Monday that Croatia could not sell wine under the label of Teran (or Terrano) on the European market, and that it would not be allowed to sell it in on its own market as of 1 July when it joins the EU.

Terrano with the protected designation of origin is recognised as a Slovenian wine, and Croatia made no objection when it was registered as such. The matter has not been covered by Croatia's accession negotiations either and therefore as of 1 July Croatia cannot sell its wine with the Teran label on the European market, the spokesman told the media on Monday after complaints from Minister Jakovina that Slovenia's officials had shown no understanding for his initiative that Croatia and Slovenia submit a joint initiative for that sort of wine.

Sources from the Commission, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that Croatia could no longer seek a satisfactory solution without Ljubljana's consent.

Terrano or Teran is a Croatian, Slovenian and Italian dark-skinned grape variety. The wine produced from this grape acquires a distinctive flavour and bouquet only when it is grown in the specific terra rossa ("red earth") soil typical of a very restricted area of the Kras plateau.