Abstract: Within the project "Comparison of terroir Istria, Vienna and Wachau", aim of which is to determine the characteristics of these areas "terroir" that directly affect the fertility of the soil, were opened, described and sampled three profiles (Monte Coronichi, Sveta Lucija and Grimalda) in Istria that are discussed in this paper. The following laboratory tests were carried out on twenty-seven samples: determination of particle size distribution, carbonate content, determination of total mineral composition, a detailed analysis of clay minerals, determination of pedogenic oxides, cation exchange capacity and exchangeable cations as well as the determination of trace elements soluble in aqua regia and sequential extraction fractions of atomic absorption spectrometry. The analysis has identified the biggest differences between the profiles of terra rossa developed on carbonate (location Monte Coronichi) and the other two soil profiles, vertic cambisols (location Sveta Lucija) and eutric brown soil (location Grimalda) developed on the fleece. All the potentially toxic metals except nickel are below the maximum allowed values for agricultural soils. It should be noted that the nickel is bound predominantly in the residual fraction, and therefore high concentrations are not bioavailable.