In the year 1699, the infamous robber Domenico Furlan destroyed the tabernacle of the Basilica in Poreč and stole its gold and silver ornaments. At his trial, he was found guilty of this unprecedented act and was executed. Join the people’s celebration of justice served that turns into a baroque celebration…

The experience includes:
- welcome drink
- tour around the historical centre of Porec guided by actors
- tour around the Sinčić palace
- visit to the Heritage Museum of Porec
- trial show and execution of Domenico Furlan at multiple locations across the city
- interactive participation in the show
- baroque dance
- rich Baroque dinner in Porec with drinks

Entry fee: 200 HRK per person, (27 €), tickets for children under the age of 7 are free of charge, children from 7-12 years of age pay 50% of the regular price
Duration: 2-3 hours
Event dates: 16.06. u 20 h / 29.09. at 20h
Organized by: The Heritage Museum of the Poreč Region

You must not miss the hilarious barrel race that tears through the streets of Brtonigla, an event that will delight the children, and bring a smile to the faces of even the most sombre people. These festivities are more than regional in character, as they are visited by many winemakers from other parts of Croatia and from abroad, who offer the latest achievements in the production of Malvasia. Istria, one of the few areas in the world that is home to the Malvasia grape, is recognized as a place where Malvasia wine is evaluated, celebrated and rated.

Program:

• 14:00 – Exhibition of handcrafts
• 15:00 – Opening ceremony and winner announcement
• 16:00 – Kulen tasting and traditional music and dance
• 17:00 – Horse parade
• 18:00 – Musical program

Current production of wine in a new basement in Farnažine (Umag surroundings) is approximately 35,000 bottles, with a goal of 50,000 bottles, the amount that Mr Kraljević could still produce working on his own. Locations of his vineyards spread over three types of soil – marly soil or flysh (white soil), terra rossa (red soil), and brown soil, all ideal for Malvazija, Teran, Muscat, some Chardonnay and Merlot. Malvazija is planted on all three soils, but is vinified separately and later blended together.

Cuj Teran 2011, 13,8%
The softness of sharp edges of Teran, soothed and tamed freshness, and well arranged structure, treats the palate with meditative intentness. So I sip the wine the entire evening, trying to catch the thoughts. And one thought repeats with each sip; softness. It is a Teran of good semblance and wiry body, “bloody”, milky softness of unusually gentle texture. It is lively and green, buttery and lasting.

Cuj olive oil Selection in a very cool packaging

From April 2013, Darko’s unpasteurized milk is available from the first milk vending machine ever installed in Pula. One liter costs 7 kn, and for 3 kn you get a nice old-school glass bottle you can reuse for many, many years. I confirm it has a wonderful and mild flavor, not at all cowy-barny as sometimes happens with organic milk, so even the kids will love it. And since it is unpasteurized, it is perfect for making yogurt, kefir, cheese and other kinds of dairy produce at home.

Poached veal liver on caramelized apple.

Homemade sausage with baked potatoes and cabbage.

Desserts galore

The year is 326, and Crispo has just returned from war and his father, Constantine the Great, declares him his heir. Fausta, Crispo’s stepmother, tries to seduce him but does not succeed and decides to seek her revenge. This play takes you into the world of Roman plots and intrigues, love, hate and revenge, followed by a feast of dishes made according to ancient Roman recipes.

The experience includes:
- welcome drink
- interactive walking performance
- tour around the archaeological site Vižula
- displayof the Roman tragedy at a unique location by the sea following the sunset
- musical journey
- rich Roman dinner which includes drink during dinner

Entry fee: 200 HRK per person, (27 €), tickets for children under the age of 7 are free of charge, children from 7-12 years of age pay 50% of the regular price
Duration: 2-3 hours
Event dates: 09.06. at 20h // 01.09. at 19.30h
Organized by: Tourist office of the Municipality of Medulin

We merged our Vis travel plans with a trip to the most charming wine festival in Croatia, Dalmacija Wine Expo in Makarska. Why not do some extra travel while down south? May is the perfect time to roam around Dalmatia, as the weather is pleasant, it isn’t too crowded AND most of the restaurants are open. Our plans included discovering new Vis winemakers, checking out the old and trying out some new restaurants/konobas as well as taking a military tour of this ex-military no-go island. Generally, imbibing island’s special atmosphere, which includes sitting in a cafe or konoba for hours after the owner left you the keys and took off for his afternoon siesta.

Xania and Craig Wear

The fact there’s something „different“ about this island is confirmed when you meet Xania and Craig, a British couple that decided to settle down in the small village of Rukavac, after teaching and traveling all over the world. In 2006, they bought a stone house and started turning it into a home. A few years after, they’ve transformed it into a wonderful place that now seasonally becomes a home to many people from all over the world.

It’s a fusion of its own kind, so you can literally smell the symbiosis upon entering the shared second floor of the house that leads to a wonderful open terrace. It will welcome you with scents of coriander, lemon, basil, rosemary, thyme and whatever’s cookin’. At that point you’ll somehow feel both at home and „somewhere else“. I suppose that’s how Xania and Craig feel on Vis.

Our good host Craig

Xania cooks vegetarian meals for her guests

Strangely enough, it seems that this unpredictable island has accepted them and they are finely incorporated into the community. They might be taking their guests kayaking, cycling or hiking, or prepare vegetarian meals for them, but they’ll also welcome you with a nice bottle of local wine, or advise on the local gourmet scene. Plus, if you’re interested in the Vis cricket scene, they’ll tell you all about it, being one of the organizers of the annual cricket tournament “THE VIS”. (For more about what their offer includes, click HERE)

Dessert made with local sweet “viški hib”

But, there was no time  to just frolic around the Wear’s house, exploring awaited.  Thanks to our special guide, Dini from VIS IT agency, we had the opportunity to listen to stories about top secret military locations while driving in a Land Rover Defender around the island. Amongst other things, we found out there’s more than 30 abandoned military bunkers, mines and tunnels all over the place.

One of the most impressive ones is definitely the huge submarine hiding mine Jastog in Parja bay. Considering there are so many abandoned, empty and ruined mines around the island, it’s a pity only one local winemaker (whom we visited the next day) is allowed to use them as wine cellars . In our minds we pictured the whole island as an ex-military-wine-producing-theme park! Dini knows the best way to end a day, so we ended in konoba Roki’s, in Plisko polje, where the star of the menu, peka, is  accompanied by the owner Oliver’s Bugava wine.  It is made from the indigenous variety Vugava using organic methods. A somewhat eclectic place is also the epicenter of the island’s cricket activities. We missed the international tournament for only a day!

Peka.

This time we decided to try fish (red gurnard) under the peka iron lid, as we usually used to have octopus, lamb or veal. Our gurnard proved to be an excellent choice, and we finished soaking bread in the remains of the juice (activity locally called “toćanje”). After we caught Oliver, who was running all over the place doing his chores,  he told us about his plans on building a new wine cellar, as the wine is currently produced in a garage next to the restaurant. He persuaded (to put it gently) his father to let him take over completely, so who knows with what will Oliver Roki  greet us next time!

Oliver Roki, photo from personal archive

The evening ended with a few glasses of Roki’s Plavac Mali wine, and we were ready for the new day, when we visited the only winemaker whose wine cellars are in an ex-military mine and dined in the most beautiful terrace on the Adriatic. We also found Paradajz Lost…

Photos by Lada Radin & Ivan Vrban Enogastrobrutal

With 20 years of experience in Italian kitchens, chef Pinto will prepare traditional Italian meals and pair them with local Baranja wines. Sounds like a challenge!

So if you’re a fan of cannelloni, spaghetti carbonara, lasagne, risotto alla parmigiana, risotto al nero di seppia, saltimbocca alla romana, polpettine in salsa, tiramisu, panna cotta, torta della nonna and many others, visit Baranja these days.

Not so long ago, fishermen would catch fish from their batana (a type of boat), while farmers made wine, after which they would all meet in the Spacio (tavern) and sing about their lives, the sea, the countryside, tales of unhappy loves and happy endings. They would comment everyday events and sometimes, filled with wine and fish, they would quarrel…

The experience includes:
- welcome drink
- tour around the Batana Eco museum
- batana ride across the peninsula with the musical accompaniment
- experience of the Matika, Spacio from Rovinj
- fisherman’s 4-course dinner which includes drink during the evening
- performance by the musical band Batana
- comedy play

Entry fee: 200 HRK per person, (27 €), tickets for children under the age of 7 are free of charge, children from 7-12 years of age pay 50% of the regular price
Duration: 2-3 hours
Event dates: 02.06. at 20h // 06.10. at 19h
Organized by: Ecomuseum Batana

The owner Blaženka Hriberski said that now even the locals, known for their conservative palates, like very much their non-meat dishes – bulghur with baked veggies and raw cauliflower, spinach and chicory quiche, red lentils or black cabbage (raštika or broskva) soup… I usually go there for marenda (traditional Istrian brunch) to order ciabatta with grilled chicken and vegetables, but instead of mayo I kindly ask them for a generous spread of their homemade hummus. A delight!

In an extraordinary surrounding you will experience sounds, flavours and fragrances, talk and music, sights and spirit of the 20th century and the past times. You will make your bread in the old-fashioned way, learn old dances accompanied by the sound of accordion, double bass and violin, play the game ‘pljočke’, or simply take a walk and discover the streets and squares, old workshops, tasting rooms, wine shops, souvenir shops…

The experience includes:
- welcome drink
- tour of the old historical centre of Buzet guided by actors and musicians,
- presentations of old crafts
- tasting of local products
- actively participation in baking of homemade bread
- the Old Buzet dance
- trying out the old costumes
- playing the game ‘pljočke’
- visit to The Heritage Museum and City Hall
- rich autochtonous lunch / dinner wich includes drink during lunch / dinner

Entry fee: 200 HRK per person, (27 €), tickets for children under the age of 7 are free of charge, children from 7-12 years of age pay 50% of the regular price
Duration: 2-3 hours
Event dates: 26.05 at 11 h / 07.07. at 19h
Organized by: The Tourist Board of Buzet

2009 Cabernet Sauvignon barrique, 12.4% Initially, it’s floral and has violets in the nose. Then typical red pepper aroma appears, followed by forest floor, caramel and vanilla. The body is fresh and soft, with sweetish raspberries and smooth tannins. Pleasant bitterness and pungency is carried in to the finish.

This winery is included in South Istria wine tour organized by EatIstria. Also, check out their cooking classes.

Bepo’s Merlot vineyards

Tasting his luscious brandy aged in oak for four years.

Atmosphere is relaxed, there a lot of very interesting wines and delicacies to taste.

Besides the exhibition part,a rich programme consists of various workshops and panels, cooking shows,

and cigar puffing sessions.