Culinary & Cultural Tour of Istria

Includes: Private accommodations, Private dining experiences, Private tastings, Private touring experiences, Private transfers
Excludes: Airfare, Alcoholic beverages (unless specified), Gratuities

Day 1– Zagreb, Opatija, Brtonigla
D
International arrival to Zagreb, Croatia
Transfer to Hotel San Rocco with a stop in the seaside city of Opatija for a leg stretch along the promenade and coffee or a snack
Check-in to Hotel San Rocco in the village of Brtonigla
6:30pm – Early dinner in Brtonigla at Michelin noted, Konoba Morgan

Day 2 – Brtonigla, Ipša, Livade, Groznjan, Rossi Vineyard
B/L
Breakfast at Hotel San Rocco
11:00am – Olive Oil Tasting and light lunch at award winning producer, Ipša d.o.o.
1:00pm – Local walk (level of difficulty – Easy to Moderate)
3:30pm – Afternoon visit to the charming hilltop village of Groznjan, home to artists and artisans of the region
5:00pm – Wine Tasting at Rossi Vineyard
Return to Hotel San Rocco
7:30pm – Dinner at Hotel San Rocco

Day 3 – Brtonigla, Novigrad, Rovinj
B/L
Breakfast at Hotel San Rocco
Free morning to relax, enjoy a yoga class, take a walk, or book a massage appointment
11:00am – Depart for Meneghetti Wine Resort, wine tasting and lunch
3:00pm – Depart for seaside town of Rovinj
Free afternoon to explore the winding, cobblestoned streets of Rovinj
7:30pm – Dinner in Rovinj at Michelin noted La Puntulina
Return to Hotel San Rocco

Day 4 – Brtonigla, Buzet, Hum
B/L
Breakfast at Hotel San Rocco
10:30am – Depart for Truffle Hunting with Lunch at Prodan Tartufi
3:00pm – Visit to charming Hum: the world’s smallest village!
7:30pm – Dinner at a notable local restaurant

Day 5 – Brtonigla, Lim Bay, Pula
B
Breakfast at Hotel San Rocco
10:00am – Depart for Lim Bay Oyster Farm tour and tasting
12:00pm – Lunch in Pula
2:00pm – Tour of Roman antiquities in Pula: the spectacular Roman Amphi-theatre, built in the 1st century AD during the reign of Emperor Vespasian and the Temple of Augustus
7:30pm – Dinner at Hotel San Rocco

Day 6 – Brtonigla, Motovun
B/L/D
Breakfast at Hotel San Rocco
10:30pm – Depart for walking food and history tour in the seaside town of Porec
2:30pm- Visit to hilltop village of Motovun
6:30pm – Cooking class followed by Dinner at Michelin noted, San Rocco Restaurant

Day 7 – Brtonigla, Zagreb
B
Breakfast at Hotel San Rocco
9:30am – Depart for Zagreb: City Tour and lunch
4:00pm – Check in to Hotel Esplanade
7:00pm – Dinner in Zagreb’s old town

Day 8 – Zagreb
B
Early Breakfast at Hotel
TBD – Depart for Zagreb airport and international flights

Note: Itinerary is subject to change

Istria is blessed with fertile ground and a mild climate that has for centuries been ideal for growing grape vines and olive trees. The harvests of both are now internationally acclaimed and award winning. On this trip, you will have numerous opportunities to sample the wines and olive oils that are putting Istria on the culinary map.

The soil of Istria is also home to the highest quality of black and white truffles, a delicacy you will have the chance to hunt and sample at a 3rd generation, family owned Truffle Farm.

Along with the exceptional food and wine experiences included in this trip, you will also dig deep into Istrian history and culture with a walking food & history tour, visits to the 1st century AD Roman Amphi-theatre and the Temple of Augustus in Pula, and visits to the **picturesque villages of Opatija, Rovinj, Porec, Groznjan, Hum and Motovun.

Your home base for this trip is the Hotel San Rocco, an award-winning boutique heritage hotel, located deep in the Istrian countryside, in the village of Brtonigla. The beautifully restored stone house, with lush gardens surrounded by olive groves, and an outstanding, Michelin noted restaurant, has won the title of Best Small Hotel in Croatia five times. Here you will enjoy a private room and gourmet meals.

Don't miss this opportunity to experience the cultural, geographic and gastronomic diversity that make Istria the perfect destination for those in search of natural beauty, history, and exceptional local cuisine.

**Note: Most of the villages you will visit on this trip are located on hilltops, and all have narrow streets paved with uneven and irregular cobblestones. In addition, the villages are typically pedestrian zones, which requires parking at some distance with uphill walking that is moderate to strenuous. This trip is not appropriate for those with impaired or limited mobility.

The Cuisine of Istria

Gastronomy is a way of life in Istria, its peasant traditions, fresh, seasonal ingredients and inventive chefs combine to make this small peninsula the destination of choice for epicureans. The cuisine of Istria is continually evolving and improving, due to the concentrated energies of talented regional chefs who select the best meats, cheeses and vegetables from local territories and the freshest fish from small-scale fishing operations.

This tour offers you the opportunity to sample a wide array of regional foods and preparation methods, all containing the freshest local ingredients. From traditional and rustic, to sophisticated and artistic, each meal and tasting on this trip will bring you closer to understanding why this region is so celebrated.

The Wines of Istria

The wine-producing tradition in Croatia started with Greek settlers at least 2,500 years ago. Development and production was severely impaired under modern communist rule when farmers were forced to send all grapes to government collectives.

Since the end of Yugoslavia in the mid-1990’s, Istrian wineries have slowly begun distinguishing themselves and Istria has earned a reputation as a remarkable wine county. The official stamp of approval came when Wine Enthusiast magazine included Istria in its top 10 wine travel destinations in the world for 2015.

The combination of the Mediterranean climate and the long coastline paired with the hilly topography of the Istrian Peninsula provides the perfect conditions for grape cultivating. On this trip, you will visit 3 different vineyards in West Istria, home to the region's most famous winemakers. The wines from this region are extremely complex and have a spectacular reputation among connoisseurs and sommeliers. You will learn about the history and styles of winemaking in Istria, the indigenous grape varieties, different soils and microclimates, and how each winemaker leaves his/her personal mark on their bottles.

More about Food & Wine in Istria

Olive Oil
Istria might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of olive oil. However, it turns out that the Istrian Peninsula is home to some of the best olive oil producers in the world. Flos Olei guidebook, which lists the best olive oil producers around the globe, has named Istria as the best quality olive oil region in the world for the fifth year in a row. The guidebook’s 2020 edition included 79 Croatian extra virgin olive oils, out of which 77 were from Istria. On this tour, you will taste many Istrian olive oils at restaurants and vineyards, but you will also enjoy a private tour and tasting at Ipša d.o.o., producers of some of the most awarded olive oils in all of Croatia.

Truffles
The story of Istrian truffles began only in the middle of the 20th century when a local farmer stumbled upon a strange-looking potato with a pungent smell. Back then, the farmers used to feed their pigs with these smelly black potatoes. At some point, Italians from Alba heard about these ‘smelly potatoes’ and offered to provide Italian delicacies (which were hard to come by during the Yugoslavian era) to the local farmers in exchange for these truffles. Later, the farmers were compensated with actual money, and for decades Istrian white truffles were sold as “original” truffles from Alba.

The turning point was in 1999 when the restauranteur Giancarlo Zigante found a 1.3 kg truffle, and instead of selling it, he decided to throw a festive dinner for locals. He also invited some journalists and the Croatian president, and that feast finally made the Istrians aware of the treasure they had in the palm of their hand. Since then, many foodies and chefs flock to the Istrian countryside every year to enjoy the celebrated truffles.

During our visit, it will be the season for the Perigord Black Truffle (Tuber Melanosporum) – This is the most highly-valued truffle out of the black truffles due to its aromatic scent and intense flavor. These truffles are round in shape and have brownish-blackish skin and dark flesh with white veins. You will have a chance to hunt for the Perigord Black Truffle with the family members and truffle dogs of Prodan Tartufi.

Cheese
Croatian cheese has been gaining recognition and awards in recent years. On this culinary tour you will sample cow, goat and sheep cheese.  You’ll have plenty of opportunities to try out some of the best Istrian cheeses at the restaurants and wineries we visit, along with a private cheese tasting at a small production, family owned dairy.

Seafood
Shellfish is another staple of Istrian cuisine, and pilgrim scallop (Kapisante) is considered one of the tastiest shellfish in the world! It grows only in the Novigrad marine area where salt water mixes with freshwater, giving it its distinct flavor. This scallop, cooked with Istria’s best olive oils is a Mediterranean match made in heaven.

Wine
The Istrian Peninsula is part of the Coastal wine region and officially is referred to as Hrvatska Istra. It can be divided into three main wine areas: Western Istria (Zapadna Istra), Central Istria (Centralna Istra) and Eastern Istria (Istočna Istra).

With more than a hundred wineries spread across the hilly peninsula, the Istrian wine universe is vast and ever expanding, slowly conquering international palates with Istrian Malvazija, Teran, Borgonja and Muscat of Momjan  – native grape varieties that Istrians are very proud of.

Malvazija Istarska / Malvasia Istriana – This is Croatia’s second most planted grape variety.  Malvazija Istarska is a white grape that produces wine with somewhat fruity and floral notes. It can be bottled as a youthful wine or aged wine.

Teran – Another popular local variety is the red grape, Teran. These grapes yield full-bodied wines with somewhat of an earthy flavor, and they should evolve over a few years.

Muškat Momjanski – The Momjan Muscat is a dry and sweet wine. It has a deep golden color, and it is highly aromatic with fruity and flowery notes.

Borgonja - A light-colored, fruity style of red wine with hints of spice and meadow herbs. Juicy, easy-going and as loveable as a great Beaujolais, this is the perfect Summer red wine.

Vineyards you will visit on this trip

Rossi

On the slopes overlooking Mirna Valley, 12 hectares of Rossi family vineyards thrive under the loving care of those who have wine-making in their genes. Marino learned a lot from his grandfather, who continues to transfer traditional knowledge and passion for this unique terroir where red, white and grey soils are intertwined. Rossi wines are all made in purity with Malvasia and Teran, indigenous grape varieties. During our visit to this family owned vineyard, we will also taste their famous Biska - mistletoe grappa that is arguably the best in Istria.

Meneghetti

'The Red Land' (terra rossa) around the Meneghetti Wine Hotel is a soil that is mineral rich and favorable for the cultivating red wine grapes. The beautiful property is protected from the sea by small hills to the south, preventing excessive humidity and giving the vine a long and healthy lifespan with strong aromas. “The Red Land” of the Meneghetti vineyards is cultivated in an ecologically sustainable manner with deep respect towards nature.

Michelin recognized restaurants you will visit on this trip

In 2020, the prestigious Michelin Guide listed a whopping 17 Istrian restaurants. This tour includes dining experiences at the following Michelin noted restaurants.

Konoba Morgan
The Morgan family are your hosts at this restaurant and they serve traditional Istrian cuisine, with a focus on meat dishes. Not to be missed are their specialties of Istrian prosciutto, homemade pasta and delicacies from the forest, such as truffles, mushrooms and wild game.

Restaurant San Rocco
San Rocco is a fine-dining restaurant, offering multi-course “slow food” tasting menus. Located within the Hotel San Rocco, the restaurant offers a lovely dining experience in an intimate and quiet surrounding. Enjoy well-crafted, tasty and creative dishes made from Istrian products.

Restaurant La Puntulina
La Puntulina is a cliff-edge restaurant in the picturesque village of Rovinj, with a series of small terraces sitting just above the sea. Food here is superb - mainly fish and other seafood - and the service is charming, but it's the setting that really makes La Puntulina special, especially if you dine at sunset. Every dish is a feast for the eyes and the palate.

Plan to book a flight departing the US for arrival to Zagreb the following day (Day 1 of the itinerary). An arrival before noon on Day 1 is recommended.

Your departing flight out of Zagreb on Day 8 can be at any time.

Please contact Valise with any questions about flights.

A non-refundable 30% deposit, per person, is required to confirm a reservation. The full balance is due 6 (six) weeks prior to the start date of the trip, this amount is non-refundable upon payment.

Cancellations less than six weeks prior to arrival are non- refundable

Shared accommodations can be arranged for a reduced cost. Please enquire.

Minimum number of travelers – 5
Maximum number of travelers – 7

Note: Most of the villages we will visit on this trip are located on hilltops, and all have narrow streets paved with uneven and irregular cobblestones. In addition, the villages are typically pedestrian zones, which requires parking at some distance with uphill walking that is moderate to strenuous. This trip is not appropriate for those with impaired or limited mobility.

Price includes:

6 nights in a private room at the San Rocco Heritage Hotel and 1 night in a private room in Zagreb.

The following dining experiences:

All Breakfasts at Hotel San Rocco
3 Lunches: Prodan Tartufi (following the truffle hunt), mid-day Walking Food Tour, in Porec, Ipša tasting and light Lunch
2 Dinners: Konoba Morgan & San Rocco Restaurant Cooking Session

Private tastings at the vineyards of Rossi and  Meneghetti, and at the farm of olive oil producer, Ipša d.o.o.

Private experiences: Walking Food & History tour, Truffle hunt, Oyster farm tour and tasting, Cooking class

Private transfers

Visits to: Roman Amphi-theatre and Temple of Augustus in Pula

Visits to the villages of Opatija, Rovinj, Porec, Groznjan, Hum and Motovun

This is a 7-night trip. Alcoholic beverages other than those specifically stated, Airfare, and Gratuities are not included in the price of this trip.

Additional Trip Terms & Conditions