Croatia
in a Glass

Your week long wine adventure begins with a transfer from the airport or some other Zagreb-based location to the hotel where you will check in and be greeted by your host. Once the entire group is together, there will be time for introductions and an explanation of the main points of the program, after which a short guided walking tour of Zagreb will perfectly introduce you to Croatia's capital city. You will end the day with a wonderful welcome dinner where your local host will introduce you to some of the local wine varieties. Here's to a wonderful week!

The first full day of the tour will see you traversing the roads of the northern part of continental Croatia. Along the way a visit will be made to Trakošćan Castle, one of the most beautiful castles in the country. After a bit of history, you will visit Međimurje, one of the up-and-coming Croatian mini-regions of wine production. There will be time for a visit to a few local small scale wineries to taste some of the best wines of Međimurje, including Pušipel. Lunch of local delicacies will be enjoyed in an authentic setting and the drive back to Zagreb will be shortened by a visit to baroque city of Varaždin – a perfect place for a relaxing coffee and a stroll through its historical centre.

After breakfast, you will leave Zagreb and head towards the most important wine growing area of central Croatia – Plešivica. Here, colder climate and soil provide for perfect conditions for growing recognized international varieties. You will visit one of the best local winemakers, enjoy a tour of the winery and sample the wine. Following lunch in a well-known local restaurant, our next stop is Croatia's most famous national park – Plitvice Lakes. You will have some time to explore the incredible beauty of the waterfalls. Continuing the travel, you will traverse picturesque landscapes that abruptly change into the karst shoreline of the Adriatic Sea, finally arriving in the seaside city of Split.

Split is the centre of the Croatian region of Dalmatia. Here, warm Mediterranean climate and steep hills account for very high quality wine growing land resulting in many indigenous varieties, with Zinfandel being the most renowned. Today, you will explore the area to the north with visits to the town of Skradin where a local winemaker is getting great results from lesser known indigenous varieties, as well as a visit to a winery in the greater Trogir area making some of the finest Crljenak (Zinfandel) wine in Croatia. Afternoon is left for you to enjoy Split on your own with an optional walking tour.

Your journey down the Croatian coast will bring you all the way south to the Dubrovnik area. Before reaching Dubrovnik itself, you will enjoy a visit to the Neretva River Delta, known for its fresh-water specialties and tangerine groves. You will have a chance to visit local wineries in the country's youngest wine region – Komarna, enjoy some of the best Neretva region wines, and indulge in a cuisine very different from the other regions visited. Arrival in Dubrovnik is expected late afternoon, with an optional city tour to introduce you to this magical city.

After breakfast, start your exploration with a panoramic drive to the top of Mount Srđ for a magnificent view over the entire area. Next stop will be the Konavle region, an agricultural area that has preserved the spirit of the traditional countryside. After a visit to the old fortress in the hills, lunch will be served at a picturesque countryside restaurant followed by a visit to one of the most important local wineries. Before returning to Dubrovnik, a stop will be made at the nearby seaside town of Cavtat for leisurely exploration or coffee by the sea.

Today is special as we are exploring Croatia's most renowned wine making region, the Pelješac Peninsula. Here, indigenous Plavac Mali gives the best results in small protected appellations like Dingač and Postup. You will be taken along winding roads among scattered villages and vineyards to visit three local wineries making wonderful wine full of character. Lunch will be enjoyed along the way, with an option to taste fresh oysters in Ston, which boasts an ancient salt factory and some of the longest medieval defensive walls in Europe. Enjoy a special farewell dinner upon return.

After breakfast there will be just enough time to say our farewells and conclude the exciting trip through Croatia. Your departing transfers will take you to the local airport or any other Dubrovnik-based location and your local guides will be on hand to assist you if you are continuing your stay.