One of the most exciting things about discovering the wines of Croatia is the phenomenal variety not only of the wines themselves, but also of the unpredictable nature of the tasting experience itself. The majority of Croatian winemakers do not have a long tradition of organised tastings to tourists, and there are relatively few professional tastings given the number of winemakers in the country, something which is slowly improving, as more winemakers see the possibilities of wine tourism.
Arguably the most advanced in this respect on the island of Hvar is the Bastijana winery in Jelsa, home to the ultimate Dalmatian hedonist, Andro Tomic. Andro is one of the true characters of the Dalmatian wine scene, always ready to engage and celebrate with guests, while son Basti quietly runs a very efficient business which has seen the Tomic range available all over the country (and further afield), while the wine tourism aspect to the winery is now a core part of the company’s business (and a must visit on Hvar if you are a wine lover.
And if Andro happens to be around during your visit, you never know what might happen, no matter what time of the year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yusN8OifV48
A couple of years ago, two Hungarian guests had the fortune in late December to coincide their Tomic winery visit with that of a great friend of Andro, Ibrica Jusic, whose performance reduced one to tears – watch ibrica in action above.
Music of all kinds can be heard emanating from the famous Romanesque Tomic basement throughout the year, and one of my more memorable evenings of the year was an invening with a Chinese TV crew, who captured Andro on film with the excellent female klapa group from Jelsa, Frecija.
Of course, wine tasting naturally leads to song, and here is a short extract of a recent tasting in the winery, with Andro in full flow with his guests.
One of the real characters of Croatian wine, with a track record of excellent wines and a must-visit winery. Find out more on the official Bastijana website.
