Istrian Gourmet Adventure

Today it’s all about truffles! After breakfast at the Kempinski hotel a private transfer will take you to a village Grožnjan above the Mirna valley, surrounded by terraced olive groves and vineyards. Known for its summer art festivals and camps, jazz festivals and art exhibits, the village boasts a rich history, dating back to the time of the Roman Empire. Like so many other Istrian villages, Groznjan sits atop a hill, and despite its uniqueness, this most picturesque town in Istria still manages to largely stay under a tourist radar. Your visit to the heart of Istria will continue at a family owned vineyard. Your lunch is only a short drive away at the Tončič farm stay, a remote all-inclusive farm, exposed to nothing but lush vegetation, clean air, rich aromas coming from olive trees and vineyards, and chirping birds. Panoramic views of the surrounding valleys and rich soil, full of truffles and asparagus, rival food and wine destinations around the globe! After lunch you will go deep into a dense Istrian forest with truffle-hunting dogs and learn secrets of the trade.. Following the hunt you will have an opportunity to indulge in truffles, at a tasting and dinner. Your day will end in Motovun.

Today is the Mediterranean cuisine day! You will start with oil tasting at an eco farm with some 50 olive trees that are over hundred years old and then continue to a family vineyard, which prides itself on utilizing only traditional cultivation practices. The vineyard benefits from mild climate as well as the Istrian deep red soil. Your lunch today will feature traditional Istrian dishes, recreated with a modern, fresh twist in an unpretentious, homy restaurant. You will be staying at the five-star Hotel Monte Mulini, situated 10min from the old town Rovinj. The hotel prides itself with excellent restaurants, offering unbeatable wine selections. Here is where you will taste a modern Istrian gastronomy, a fusion of local, Mediterranean and French cuisines.

Your culinary adventure is headed inland to Bale today, to a typical hilltop 15th-century village, recognizable by an imposing white stone 16th-century castle. Your nose and taste buds will fully awoken in a nearby Histria Aromatica, a unique production and educational agro-tourism center, composed of olive groves, orchards and vineyards, gardens and plantations, conceived on a principle “from seed to brand”. You will not have to travel far for a tasty refreshment after the visit to this ethnobotany park; your next stop is a winery a short 20min drive away. Although very close to Rovinj, this small winery feels very much off the beaten track. A view of the sea and Rovinj from the farm is priceless and it alone is enough of a reason for many guests to return for a visit. Your lunch will be at an exquisite Restaurant Meneghetti, a location dedicated to offering thrilling and memorable meals.The secluded mansion is nestled in a tranquil nature, surrounded by vines and olive trees, and gently caressed by calming sea breeze from the Adriatic. After the lunch, you will return to Rovinj for an afternoon at a beach. Then take a walk through the old town to your dinner destination, where they serve a contemporary fusion of traditional and French cuisine. Having such a culinary experience in a romantic embrace of Rovinj will turn your evening into a creative event, full of emotions. You will turn in for the night at the 5-star Hotel Lone.

Enjoy one last breakfast with the view of dreamy Rovinj and then head toward the south of the Istrian peninsula, to the city of Pula. The city is magnificent! During a walk through the city, you can travel from the Roman times to the Venetian period and Austrian Empire, to the modern life of the 8th biggest city in Croatia: mosaics, Hercules Gates, Venetian Kastel Fortress, Pula’s market, and most famous of all, Pula’s Roman amphitheater. A 15min drive from Pula is a family-owned Trapan winery, where they will be awaiting you with a wine tasting. From the winery, you’ll go on a guided ride with quads to a village on a bay on the Eastern side of the Istrian Peninsula for a lunch of perfectly prepared classic Croatian seafood dishes. You will remain on the eastern side for the rest of the day at the Morchaki Country Resort & Spa. The remotely located estate dates back to 1880s when it was known for winemaking. In the serenity of the estate your dinner will be served to you by your personal chef.

Your last day will start with a breakfast at the Morhcaki estate, taking in dramatic views of the Istrian peninsula landscape. There’s much to do around the estate, if nothing else, you can take a bike through their olive groves or enjoy their wellness facilities. A private transfer to your point of departure (nearby airports Pula, Trieste, Zagreb, Ljubljana) will be available to you at your leisure.