I love the winter on Hvar. It’s a time when we can enjoy having that gorgeous scenery all to ourselves. Although we have had some rain, there have also been lots of sunny days when the great outdoors just has to be explored. January and February are perfect months for hiking, with comfortable temperatures and…
The inland villages of Hvar are connected by a network of old pathways, in use since medieval times. Some are rough tracks you can drive on (given a vehicle with suitably high clearance), while others are walking trails, somewhat rocky in places and which may at times lead you into tangled patches of brambles. These…
This December, we came across a new custom in the villages of Hvar. Well, I say new, but only to us, and it turned out only the name was truly unfamiliar. Kolendanje is the local variation of very old folk custom in Croatia, with versions in many other Slavic countries. When we arrived at the…
Beaujolais nouveau is, for many of us, the only young wine we know – that is, one bottled and sold immediately after fermentation, only a few weeks after harvest. The process is careful to preserve the fruit characteristics, but not the bitter tannins, giving a wine light in taste, with flavours of red fruit, slightly…
The new Carić winery tasting room is very handy for us – just a short walk across the bridge in the heart of Vrboska! We’re turning into regulars here, and it’s been great watching a run-down old building evolving into an attractive, traditionally-styled konoba tasting-room. Owners Ivo and Ivana Carić have put in many hours…
May is a lovely time of year to explore the Hvar countryside, and we’ve been taking a look at some of the rather scenic vineyards on the island. The vines are neatly clipped and the new growth is sprouting well, with flowers in bud. The Dalmatian coast had a cold snap at the end of…
Hvar is the island of wine, and in many vineyards the grapes are ripening, almost ready for harvest. Our 5th day of painting took us right in amongst some old vines, near the village of Svirče. As vineyards go, this one is rather impressive, mostly large rocks with pockets of soil for the vines. Around…
We always love to visit Carić winery, not just for their excellent wines, but also for the friendly chat and a chance to catch up with owners Ivana and Ivo Carić. Theirs is a small, family run operation with a growing reputation both within Croatia and internationally – in fact their Bogdanjuša wine was recently…
Do old vines make wine with more character? It certainly seems as if they should! We drove past this wonderful vineyard near Svirče a couple of months back, when the vines were all neatly clipped. With no leaves, the old twisted trunks showed boldly against the rocky terrain. From the road, it almost seemed as…
Driving between Stari Grad and Jelsa always makes me think of Napa Valley in California. It has a lot to do with being a long straight road with vineyards right up to either side of it, but more than that, it’s also the beautiful rolling hills and warm sunshine – and the wineries!
Go Hvar 
You must be logged in to post a comment.