Wine tasting before 10am again – mmmm not sure about this, Croatian wine is very different and has a young flavour about it. We visited Grgich Vineyards in Trstenik for a tasting, a red and white both were nice but didn’t knock my socks off like the wine we had had in the restaurants in Split & Hvar.  

Grgić Vineyard was established in 1996 by legendary Napa Valley winemaker, Croatian-born Miljenko “Mike” Grgich and his daughter, Violet Grgich.  Mike started the winery to produce the finest wines from native Dalmatian grapes and concentrates on crafting Croatia’s very best varietals: Plavac Mali and Pošip. Croatia enjoys a long history of winemaking: records show grapes cultivated here centuries before the birth of Christ. Our Pošip grapes were grown on the island of Korčula at a small, steep area of vineyards perched above the Adriatic Sea. The just-picked grapes are brought by boat to the winery, just north of the historic walled city, Dubrovnik, in the southern Dalmatia wine region.

We cruised from there back to Dubrovnik, it was quite a way, we stopped for a swim stop in a magical bay, there was a huge jellyfish that scared some of the swimmers away but it didn't hang around for long, too much splashing!!!

Croatia has its challenges, the war 20 years ago is still very raw, young people leave their homes on the islands to seek work in other EU countries now that Croatia has joined. They became part of the European Union July 2013 and its early days for them to tell if it will be beneficial, the young people voted heavily to become part of the EU so they could find work in other
area’s in Europe. The average wage in Croatia is only 300 - 400 Euros per month for someone working in a supermarket or similar. To rent an apartment is approx 300 euros so young people that are no qualifications are forced to live with their parents as they just can’t afford to leave home. We have found the people friendly with great senses of humour and ready to joke.