Wine and Olive Oil Tour
Wine and Olive Oil Tour – Taste the Two Liquids That Built Hvar
Life on Hvar wasn’t built on tourism…
It was built on vineyards carved into stone terraces…
On olive trees that survived droughts, winds and wars…
Life on Hvar was built by families who measured time by harvest seasons.
Today, 2400 years after the first vines and olives rooted into Hvar’s rocky soil, some families still measure time by harvest seasons, but they also look forward to the tourist season…
That gives them and us a chance to show you how rich Hvar’s wine and olive oil culture are.
Duboković family is one of those…
So this visit to Duboković winery is a lot more than a simple wine tasting…
This is a journey into a family home, to a house built by the owner’s grandfather, where the owner and winemaker will personally serve you his legendary Medvid, what many believe is the best plavac mali wine in Croatia.
While the owner shares his passion for wine, olive, and people, you may hear his daughter and son play in their living room, right above your heads…
If the owner isn’t there, you’ll be left in the safe hands of a family member or a close family friend, in the 89-year-old candle lit cellar that stays comfortably cool even during the hottest summer days.
Before you hide away in the romantic wine cellar, we’ll pick you up in your hotel and show you the Napoleon fortress at 230 m elevation with an amazing view of Hvar Town and Pakleni islands…
We’ll follow the old road through the villages of Brusje, Velo Grablje, and Selca. Keep your eyes on the road so you can admire the lace of stone dry walls, lavender fields, olive groves, and wild Mediterranean plants.
We’ll also make another stop before the wine tasting at St. Roko’s Chapel, a place with a wonderful view of the Stari Grad Plain (UNESCO World Heritage).
Once you absorb enough of Hvar Town and Dalmatian nature, nothing is stopping us from going directly to Jelsa to taste wine and olive oil. During your tasting experience, you’ll try 6 to 8 wines and 4 olive oils.
Wines will be served in the ascending order. You’ll start with a rosé that hydrates you better than water (we are not doctors, but it’s as drinkable as water, and has some minerals in it, so…). Then you’ll try some of the first orange wine labels from Hvar Island and move to reds…
Reds vary from a dangerously light red summer wine made from the gentle indigenous variety Darnekuša that grows in the highest elevated vineyard in Croatia, right under the peak of St. Nicholas on Hvar Island…
All the way to a full-bodied Plavac Mali that grows on one of the best terroirs in Croatia, and then matures for years in oak barrels.
The wine and olive oil tasting experience ends with prošek, an extremely traditional Croatian desert wine. Just a sip of it will help you remember Hvar as a place where people know how to make life sweet even in the bitterest of times.
Once the wine tasting ends, you’ll walk out of the candle-lit fairy tale, yet the ride back to your hotel will be equally magical. And those couple of glasses of wine, paired with olive oil, will help you understand the beauty of Hvar that will surround you even deeper.
Quick Facts about Wine and Olive Oil Tour Hvar
- Duration: Approx. 3 hours
- Departure: At 11 AM or 4 PM (or by agreement)
- Group size: Up to 32 guests or private option available
- THE PRICE INCLUDES: Tour as described, A/C car with driver, professional local guide, wine and olive oil tastings
- THE PRICE DOESN’T INCLUDE: Gratuities to driver/guide and items purchased for personal use
- Transportation method: Mercedes Benz Vito/V class
- Minimum pax: 2 people
- Season: Available all season
- Difficulty level: Easy
- Language: English (other languages on request)
Who Is This Wine and Olive Oil Tour Perfect For?
- Couples looking for a romantic wine tasting on Hvar
- Travelers searching for authentic Dalmatian wine experience
- Wine lovers interested in indigenous grape varieties
- Cruise ship guests wanting a meaningful inland wine tour
- Foodies interested in olive oil tasting in Croatia
- Families with adult children interested in local culture
- Travelers who want to understand Hvar beyond beaches
- Guests staying in Hvar Town, Stari Grad or Jelsa
What You’ll Experience on Wine and Olive Oil Tour
- Scenic drive through traditional villages and rural Hvar
- Visit to carefully selected local winery
- Tasting 6 to 8 Duboković wines
- Stories about agriculture, life on the island, Hvar and Croatia
- Tasting 4 different olive oils
- Panoramic viewpoints overlooking the Adriatic Sea
- Opportunity to purchase wine and olive oil directly from producers
Wine and Olive Oil on Hvar – Why It Matters
Wine production on Hvar dates back over 2,400 years to ancient Greek settlers.
The island’s stone terraces were built to protect vineyards from erosion and maximize cultivation space. Indigenous varieties like Plavac Mali developed unique characteristics thanks to intense sun, sea reflection and rocky soil.
Olive cultivation followed a similar pattern.
Families maintained olive groves for generations, producing oil primarily for survival and local trade.
During the 20th century, both wine and olive oil were economic pillars of the island. Tourism changed the focus – but the quality and tradition remained.
Today, Hvar produces internationally awarded wines and premium extra virgin olive oils that reflect the island’s terroir.
This tour doesn’t explain how they taste – but why they taste the way they do.
What to Bring for Your Wine and Olive Oil Tour
- Light jacket in spring or autumn
- Cash for purchasing wine and olive oil
FAQs About the Hvar Wine and Olive Oil Tour
What is the legal drinking age in Croatia?
- Light jacket in spring or autumn
- Cash for purchasing wine and olive oil
When does an average Croatian try wine for the first time?
In Dalmatia people tend to drink bevanda, we cut wine with water. So depending on the family traditions, some kids try wine while very young, but in a very light variant of bevanda, and always only after lunch. Wine here isn’t an alcoholic drink people drink to get drunk. Wine on Hvar is part of the tradition, Mediterranean cuisine, and people themselves.
Is this a private tour?
We offer both small group and private wine and olive oil tour options.
Is this tour suitable for beginners?
Absolutely. No prior wine knowledge is required. The tasting is structured and explained in an accessible way. The guide is open to all questions and will adjust explanations to your level of knowledge.
Is the winery commercial or family-run?
Duboković is a small family-run winery that makes just 20.000-25.000 bottles per year. They make under 2000 thousand bottles per year of their best label Medvid.
Hvar Wine Region vs Other Croatian Wine Regions – What’s the Difference?
Unlike continental Croatian wine regions, Hvar wines are shaped by extreme Mediterranean conditions: Intense sun exposure, Sea reflection, Rocky soil, Limited water.
This creates powerful, concentrated wines with strong character. Olive oil follows the same logic – bold, aromatic, structured. The experience here is less industrial and more intimate compared to large mainland wineries. On Hvar, wine and olive oil production is deeply personal.
Is Hvar Really a Serious Wine Destination?
Yes. Hvar is one of the oldest wine-producing areas in Europe. Today, local wineries regularly receive international recognition, and olive oil producers compete globally with premium extra virgin oils.
Our Wine and Olive Oil Tour reconnects visitors with this heritage and explains why the island’s agricultural backbone still defines its identity.
If you want to understand how Hvar tastes, not just how it looks…
