Dubrovnik Wine Route
This is a 7 night wine lovers experience. Enjoy vintage sailing ships along the magnificent southern Dalmatian coastline & islands on the route.
The secret love affair between the sea and the wine has been going on since the times immemorial, and few are those who can resist it. By joining this very special cruise in the company of an expert guide, which includes the island of Korcula and Hvar, and the city of Dubrovnik, you will become a part of that unbreakable bond. A tour of the wineries, the cellars and the local wine makers on the islands and along the mainland coast around Dubrovnik, and the chance to savour wines produced from the indigenous varieties of grapes enables one to learn about the tradition of viticulture and taste the life of this striking part of Croatia. Let yourself relax in the embrace of the sea and the wine, enjoy pleasant company and give a rest to your body and at the same time fortifier your spirit with this rather unforgettable oenological adventure.
Tour Duration: 7 nights
Tour Highlights:
- Dubrovnik
- Trstenik
- Vela Luka
- Hvar
- Korcula
- Mljet
- Sipan
Day 1: Arival to Dubrovnik and accommodation in one of 4 star hotels. Dinner and overnight.
Day 2: After breakfast check out from the hotel and join a guided tour of this magical town. Return to the ship around noon. After short welcome speech, we will start cruising towards Trstenik at 13.00h followed by lunch on board. Trstenik is a village and harbour in the central part of the southern coast of the island of Pelješac with population of just 106. Chief occupations include farming, viniculture (the famous Dingač wine), fishing and tourism. Pelješac penninsula is known for wine producing and we will be able to see many grape fields on the sloaps of hills surrounding this small village. The first cellar on our tour is the Grgich Winery owned by Mike Grgich from the Grgich Hill Napa Valley Winery. The second wine tasting and light dinner will be enjoyed at the Matuško winery in the village of Potomje within the Pelješac wine growing hills. Both wineries produce the Plavac Mali wine, which is a close relative of the Zinfandel in California and the Italian Primitivo. Overnight on board.
Day 3: After breakfast we continue our journey towards western part of Korčula island. Lunch on board. Town of Vela Luka is an oasis of Dalmatia and Mediterranean influences: mild climate, unpolluted sea and air, olive groves, fig trees, tuneful melodies. Vela Luka is surrounded by the richness and beauty of Nature. A few kilometers from the center of Vela Luka we find traces of early human settlement at the "Vela Spila" cave. We will have free evening today and suggest having a dinner in one of the local 'konobas' with authentic experience of local food, wine and fun. Overnight in Vela luka port.
Day 4: Early in the morning we depart towards the Paklenski islands in front of Hvar town where we will have enough time to relax and refresh in the clean, crystal blue sea. Arrival in Hvar after lunch. Hvar is the longest island in the Adriatic. Here we can find the Renaissance cathedral with its original tower; also the oldest community theatre in Europe was founded here in 1612. City of Hvar offers plenty of restaurants, bars and cafes that are open long into the night. Hvar is often referred to as the sunshine island. In the afternoon transfer follows to Tomić winery for wine tasting where the wine maker Andro Tomić will offer you some of his native Hvar wines and some cuvees like the inovative combination of Plavac Mali & Cabernet Sauvignon. Overnight in Hvar port.
Day 5: During breakfast departure for Korčula, the birthplace of MARCO POLO. Lunch on board and swimming break in one of the bays on the route. Arrive in Korčula in the afternoon. On this island you can find more legends, tales and monuments than anywhere else. Listen to the story of the stone walls, which took over two centuries to build. In the late afternoon we will visit Bire winery in nearby town Lubarda where we will also have typical Dalmatian dinner accompanied with the islands remarkable premium Grk white wine. Overnight in Korčula port.
Day 6: After breakfast we continue our journey towards the island and national park Mljet. Lunch on board. The whole afternoon is free to enjoy the salt lakes in the National Park and enjoy the sun and sea on this peaceful island. In the middle of the large lake, inside the National park, one can visit an old abbey and church, or just use a small boat to roam around the National park. Bicycles can also be hired to cycle around the paths that surround the lakes. Half an hour drive will bring us to Vila Radulj where we will taste special dinner with meal prepared under ''peka'' bell and served with homemade wine. Overnight in port Polača/Pomena.
Day 7: Early in the morning we continue our trip towards the Elafiti islands. ELAFITI are a group of islands placed in the Adriatic Sea west of Dubrovnik. They include Šipan, Lopud and Koločep (Kalamota). They attract many tourists with their beautiful scenery and sandy beaches. Swimming and lunch is planned at one of the smaller Elafiti islands. ŠIPAN, the largest island of the Elafiti, is also the most distant from Dubrovnik. This is where we will spend the night after having a Capatin's dinner and party on the ship in the evening.
Day 8: Early departure for Dubrovnik with breakfast on route. Enjoy the beautiful sights of nature along the way towards “the heaven on earth” - according to the famous writer George Bernard Shaw. Lunch on board and arrival to Dubrovnik early in the afternoon (around 2pm). In late afternoon we will visit Konavle area and Crvik winery to try one native Dalmatian wine sort 'Maraština'. Overnight in the GRUŽ port of this magical town.
Day 9: After an early breakfast we say goodbye to the crew and all your new friends!
Tour dates: Various travel dates for this Tour are available including some specifically Police orientated dates, contact us on 01422 847 847 or through our Holiday Request Form for more details.