Croatia Wine & Gourmet Tour

PROGRAM

Day 1: ARRIVAL OSIJEK

Arrival by bus from Vienna to Osijek. Meet your German speaking Tour Escort (optional) and accommodation at hotel WALDINGER.  Dinner at the local restaurant “KOD RUŽE” in Osijek. Overnight.

Day 2: BELJE – KOPAČKI RIT – ILOK

Breakfast at hotel. Morning drive to Belje for wine tasting. Proceed to the Park of Nature “Kopački Rit” located near the point where rivers Drava and Danube joining together, carrying on further towards the Black Sea. Over 2.000 biological species live there, many of which are rare and endangered species at the global and European levels. The visit to the Nature Park includes: entrance fee, presentation of the park at the Visitors center, boat ride, visit to Eblin farm, Tikveš Castle Complex and professional guide. After lunch in a typical Slavonian restaurant - „Kormoran“, the trip takes you to Ilok for wine tasting at winery Iločki Podrumi, a hallowed place with cellars dating back to the 15th century, and 326 hectares of private vineyards. Return back to Osijek in the late afternoon and dinner at the local restaurant “GOLDSCHMIDT”. Overnight.

Day 3: KUTJEVO – ZAGREB

Breakfast at hotel and check-out. Morning drive to Kutjevo. Visit Kutjevo, located on the northeastern edge of the valley on the slopes of the Pozega Krndija in Slavonia, a famous winery and wine center with monuments and baroque castle. Visit the famous medieval Kutjevački wine cellar, which was built by the Cistercians in 1232 and has been preserved in its original condition. This is one of the best wineries in the region. Enjigi and Krauthaker wine tasting with local snacks. In the afternoon, proceed to Zagreb. Upon arrival, accommodation at hotel PALACE, located at the city center. A t the beginning of the evening, walk to the local restaurant “BALTAZAR” for the dinner. Overnight.

Day 4: ZAGREB – OPATIJA – ISTRIA

Breakfast at hotel and check-out. Drive to Opatija, “The Queen of Croatian tourism” for the lunch at the local restaurant “KUKURIKU”. After lunch, proceed to Lovreč for wine tasting at the vinery Ivica Matošević. Continue with the visit to Zigante tartufi Ltd. which is specialized in truffle processing and production of truffle products, with the addition of mushrooms and other agricultural products, such as olives and olive oil. Zigante delice range of products is produced at the same production line. It includes various creams, e.g. boletus, olives or rosemary-based fresh tomato sauces with mushrooms and aromatic mediterranean herbs, olive oil flavoured with rosemary, basil, chilli peppers and lemon, as well as sweets (jams made of fruit and free of conservatives, artificial flavours or colouring agents and, finally, acacia honey with the addition of dried fruits and nuts. The tour continues to Vižinada for the wine tasting at Marijan Arman winery. Accommodation at hotel SAN ROCCO at Brtonigla or at hotel ANGELO D’ORO at Rovinj. Dinner at the local restaurant “PEPENERO” in Novigrad. Return back to hotel and overnight.

Day 5: ISTRIA

Breakfast at hotel. Morning drive to Kabola to visit the winery Kabola (Marino Markelić). If you want to experience something really special in Istria, you have to taste the wines of Momjan area. The ideal position of the nearby hills facing the South-West and the sun is both the prerequisite and the secret of production of fine wines of this area. In an immediate vicinity of the famous wine regions of the world the red and the grey soil touch each order, which gives the wines of this area a special rich flavor. In the past the Momjan area provided even Austrian-Hungarian  aristocracy with wine. Istrian malmsey, muscat, refosk, teran, merlot, cabernet sauvignon are typical sorts with wonderful colors and bouquet. Proceed to the village Koreniki to taste the wines and local specialties (snacks) at Moreno Coronica Winery. Moreno Coronica belongs to a younger generation of Istrian winemakers who entered the winemaking business following his grandfather's and father's footsteps. His newly built large cellar equipped with up-to-date technology seems as if it had nothing in common with the traditional methods but his persistence, determination and his passion towards autochthonous grape sorts has made him one of the largest producers in Istria. His malvasia, Gran Malvasia in particular, aged in barrique, has been considered by some a leader in the overall assortment of white wines in Istria. However, M. Coronica is very ambitious when it comes to teran, too; his Gran Teran ageing in the barrique is certainly one of the most interesting red wines of Istria. Oriented almost exclusively to local quality wines, namely Malvasia and Teran, Coronica has shown all the same how much he cared for traditional ways. Continue to Savudrija for wine tasting at Moreno Degrassi winery. Mr. Moreno Degrassi started off with basic wine varieties which our common in the region of Istria. We’re of course, talking about autochtonous varieties such as malvazija, moscato & teran, but he took it a step further with great chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc.Today, the range of wine varieties of maison DEGRASSI exceeds the number of 20 – adding interesting varieties such as viognier or petit verdot to the rang as well as wonderful cuvee’s which are yet to be discovered in their full richness. In the afternoon, drive back to Rovinj for guided Sightseeing Tour. Admire this ancient and very picturesque medieval town, its town walls, gates, archway and a clock tower all overlooked by the beautiful Church of St Euphemia which has wonderful views from the tower, a replica of St Mark's in Venice, of the rooftops and distinctive chimneys and island-studded coast. The narrow streets and hidden squares are lined with grand, crumbling architecture of many styles when the town was an important part of the Venetian Republic, and there are chic boutiques, galleries, tempting cafes and many churches to explore. Dinner at the exclusive new restaurant “WINE VAULT” and overnight.

Day 6: ISTRIA

Breakfast at hotel. Morning drive to Krašica for wine tasting at Giorgio Clai Winery. Every Istrian winemaker will agree, Giorgio Clai is the most passionate winemaker on the peninsula, whose wines can be found in top restaurants of New York and San Francisco. “I’m making wine in the vineyard, not in the winery!” he will proudly tell you and continue with the story how it is important to know each vine in the vineyard because, depending on its position, you need to prune it differently. Lunch at the local restaurant “PETEROKUTNA KULA” in Poreč. Return back to hotel and overnight.

Day 7: VINSKI VRH

Breakfast at hotel and check-out. Drive to Vinski Vrh. Stop at Bofan for wine tasting and light lunch at LIBERTIN. Transfer to the airport.