Wine barrels on Stari Grad Plain.

Wine tours

One of the original crops that the Ancient Greek settlers brought with them to Hvar was grapes. They planted their vines on the Stari Grad Plain in the 4th century BC and farmers have been growing them here ever since.

In the fertile farmland of the plain, grapes have always grown well. Over the centuries, the vineyards have been cultivated and improved and now the wines that come from the Stari Grad Plain and other parts of Hvar island are some of the best in Croatia.

There are quite a few wineries on the island that are open to the public and you can often turn up unannounced for a tasting. However, it’s probably better to call ahead or go with an organised tour to guarantee that the producers will be available.

When it comes to grape varieties, the dominant ones on the island tend to be red – the very popular mali plavac, for example, or the indigenous dernekuša. However, there are also three indigenous white grape varieties that are worth trying - bogdanuša, parc, and mehuja.

While there have been ups and downs for the business of winemaking on Hvar, the quality has never been questioned. With a positive mix of large producers and small boutiques now operating at the same time, it seems like the local wine industry is in for some good times.

Visit