Wine & Dine / EXCURSIONS

CULINARY ADVENTURE IN HRVATSKO ZAGORJE

We'll present the entire process of wine producing, from pressing the grapes and vinification, to sampling the must. We'll also acquaint you with the technique of making the famed Zagorje štrukli pastry, part of the goodbye lunch that will follow.

Only 40 km away from Zagreb, in the heart of Hrvatsko Zagorje, between beautiful green hills, on the most beautiful of them is located - "Vuglec Breg". On the northern side of ''Vuglec Breg'' there is a horse barn, a little pond, two tennis courts and two 'five a side' football fields, a playground for children, lawns and walking paths. The tourist village ''Vuglec Breg'' is the result of the creative and romantic vision of the Vuglec family. The Vuglec family's aim was to convert the heritage of their ancestors into a lasting value. The renovated ''Vuglec Breg'' comprises a number of autochthonous Zagorje houses (hiža) converted into accommodation for tourists, and the old building which holds the restaurant, wine cellar and seminar hall. Right by the restaurant and along the first vineyard rows there is a pergola with a BBQ, bread oven and summer terrace. Vuglec Breg'' wine cellar was established as an important feature of our rural tourism offer. On the southern slopes of the hill, where there used to stand the remains of the abandoned vineyards, high-quality grape-vines have been planted. We'll present the entire process of wine producing, from pressing the grapes and vinification, to sampling the must. We'll also acquaint you with the technique of making the famed Zagorje štrukli pastry, part of the goodbye lunch that will follow.

ŠOLTA JEWEL

We hope that the time spent here in the unique ambience will remain an unforgettable memory.

Šolta is the island in Croatia situated in the Adriatic Sea in the central Dalmatian archipelago, west of the island of Brač, south of Split (separated by Split Channel) and east of the Drvenik islands (separated by the Šolta Channel). On the north-eastern coast of the island there are the large bays of Rogač and Nečujam. The economy of the island is based on vineyards, olives, fruit, fishing and tourism. While the main settlements (Grohote, Gornje Selo, Srednje Selo, Donje Selo) are inland, the main fishing centres are Maslinica, which is exposed to only north-westerly winds, making it a good shelter for smaller boats.  Rogač is the main port and Nečujam the centre of the island’s tourism.

MARTINIS MARCHI HOTEL & RESTAURANT

Martinis Marchi Hotel & Restaurant is located in a historic castle in Maslinica on the island of Šolta's west coast. It is a place which vividly evokes visions of sparkling teal waters and a landscape dotted with olive trees. In 1703, the three Marchi brothers got permission from the Venetian authorities to build a tower, a village and a church above the bay of Maslinica. At the time, pirate attacks were becoming frequent and, with considerable efforts of the colonists, two years later a castle was erected together with defense walls and a prominent tower as the last point of defense. Today, after three centuries of tumultuous history, the Martinis Marchi castle welcomes you into its chambers that echo with the soft whisper of times gone by. The staff of the castle wishes you a pleasant stay. In their restaurant they will serve you culinary specialties prepared naturally and with loving care, as well as top quality wines. At Martinis-Marchi they strive to unite the individual creativity of our chefs with the traditional Dalmatian cuisine to create culinary highlights for you on every visit. All ingredients used in their kitchen are all selected for their freshness and quality. They focus on local and regional products which they prepared with great care to a maximum of flavor. The use of high quality olive oil right here from Šolta, a few drops of fresh lemon juice or just a pinch of the very best sea salt from the salt-works of neighboring Pag are staples of their kitchen. Every dish should be a small work of art on its own, but hopefully can be further enriched for you by combining it with a glass of wine. We hope that the time spent here in the unique ambience will remain an unforgettable memory.

TRUFFLE ADVENTURE

Let us introduce to you our treasure – the truffle, a gastronomic delight in all its various forms.

The truffle business of the family from Paladini near Buzet was established last century. Back then Motovun forest was quite bigger than today. Both white and black truffles found in that area were considered to be among the best quality truffles in Istria. However, one of the richest truffle fields now lies at the bottom of the Butoniga lake! The longstanding experience of the family in truffle harvesting which has been passed over from generation to generation resulted in the establishment of the company GIR d.o.o. (Goran and Radmila) in 1994, a company that commits itself to truffle hunting with great dedication, through buying up and selling of fresh and frozen truffles, as well as processing and launching of the products in the domestic and international markets. Let us introduce to you our treasure – the truffle, a gastronomic delight in all its various forms. In addition to their gastronomic offer, we arranged for you a tasting session of their products and an unforgettable demonstration truffle hunting adventure with guides.

VISIT TO KLIS FORTRESS AND ETHNO VILLAGE

THE KLIS FORTRESS

The Klis Fortress (Croatian: Tvrđava Klis) is a medieval fortress situated above a village bearing the same name, near the city of Split, in central Dalmatia, Croatia. From its origin as a small stronghold built by the ancient Illyrian tribe Dalmatae, becoming a royal castle that was the seat of many Croatian kings, to its final development as a large fortress during the Ottoman wars in Europe, Klis Fortress has guarded the frontier, being lost and re-conquered several times throughout its more than two thousand year-long history. Due to its location on a pass that separates the mountains Mosor and Kozjak, the fortress served as a major source of defense in Dalmatia, especially against the Ottoman advance, and has been a key crossroad between the Mediterranean belt and the Balkan rear.

ETHNO VILLAGE

Ethno village for many years considered to be a recognized manufacturer of traditional Dalmatian delicacies. High quality olive oil, desserts of figs, almonds and citrus fruits, healthy snacks with honey, a variety of delicious and cute cookies, jams and spreads, are an integral part of the unique offer. With carefully designed packaging and positioning they deserve special prefix premium boutique products. We'll visit the ethno village; enjoy some aperitifs, a stroll through an olive grove and the presentation of culinary heritage. We'll also learn how to make bread under a peka (baking lid). Next up is a brunch with an appetiser in the form of olive oil. The old coastal tradition of offering pogača bread, salt and olive oil has become a very modern amuse-bouche at prestigious restaurants around the world. On the Croatian coast enjoy the fantastic olive oils, learn about the various varieties of olives and the complete harmony of peka-baked bread, oil and grains of salt.

OIL, CHEESE, WINE AND OF COURSE MORE FOOD

This is a hedonistic tour where you’ll have chance to taste best of Istrian culinary.

MENEGHETTI

Olive oils produced on the Meneghetti estate represent supreme products of olive-growing industry, embodying at the same time both pleasure and health. They offer a triumph of aroma and taste, while strong impressions they leave put themon equal terms with great wines. In the kitchen these oils give that magic touch which turns ordinary dish into something special. The estate's olive yard abounds with olive cultivars: rosulja, istarska bjelica, leccino and buža, used for the production of our premium olive oils which regularly win prestigious awards and recognitions. The most valuable is definitely the inclusion in the world’s leading olive oil guide „L'extravergine“ in 2007, when the extra-virgin olive oil „Izbor“ was chosen as the world’s best oil in one of the most challenging olive oil categories – olive oils with „intensely fruity“ aroma.

STANCIJA KUMPARIČKA

Stancija Kumparička is known for the best goat cheese in the Mediterranean. In the few years his family has spent in Istria since moving here from Slovenia, Aleš Winkler has become the most renowned Croatian cheesemaker. An uncompromising perfectionist he has found pastures with the most aromatic grasses, goats that provide the best milk, and a method of processing milk and nurturing cheese that produces superior results. A highlight of his fantastic offer is the cheese medallion. Relatively young cheese is formed into a characteristic cylindrical form and sliced into medallions before being quickly fried on both sides to a golden colour. Aleš' timing is impeccable and the atmosphere at his Stancija Kumparička near Pula is magical. We'll enjoy breakfast outdoors at the stancija in the company of goats and black haired pigs. We'll hear all about the goatherd's profession, how the best young and mature goat cheeses are produced and whether three-year old goat cheese is edible.

TRAPAN

Love, energy and courage are the main drivers of the winery Trapan. Since 2005 to this day with hard work and perseverance, thay have created 12 hectares of ecologically clean vineyards. The learned knowledge and experience they are transfered into the winery creating fine and elegant wines of a specific character, recognizable, with a special Mediterranean touch. Wine production is primarily a family business and requires a lot of attention and mutual understanding. Believing in the success of their mission, creating from the heart, giving themselves to the entire production process, they found the right path that leads to achieving their target – to create a distinctive product, in wich even those of most refined taste will enjoy. Tasting includes a tour of the winery, with expert guidance of the enologist or winemaker/owner.

BATELINA

Small, family-owned restaurant is located in a seaside village of Banjole, just south of Pula. The restaurant is tiny. It can accommodate maybe 30 people inside and another 40 at the outside terrace (weather permitted). It’s run by family Skoko. They are fishermen.  In the morning they fish, in the evening they prepare the daily menu based on the catch of the day. Awesome, isn’t it?! I know what you might think: The shoemaker’s children go barefoot. But trust me, at konoba Batelina it’s not the case. I don’t know if they are great fishermen (must be if I judge them by the freshness and variety of the fish served here), but they are certainly great cooks. The chef star is David Skoko. All the dishes are his innovative creation, although his mother along with other family members help him in the kitchen. You’ll have a chance to eat here the dishes you’ve never thought possible: fish tripe, catfish french fries, fish liver mousse, fish lollipops, etc… When you visit konoba Batelina, just follow a simple formula: let the chef choose the dishes for you.