Plavac Mali and Prošek Tasting in Jelsa and Vrboska

What it is

An afternoon of tasting at two wineries in the centre of the island, in Jelsa and Vrboska, with transport and a guide from Hvar town. You try about ten wines in all, among them the island's red, plavac mali, and Dalmatia's traditional sweet wine, prošek, accompanied by cheeses and cured ham. Since you return with a driver, you don't have to worry about drink-driving on Hvar's mountain roads.

Hvar's wine

The Greeks who founded Pharos, today's Stari Grad, brought the vine in the 4th century BC and planted it on the plain that is now a World Heritage site. Hvar Tourism speaks of more than 2,400 years of wine on the island. The varieties you will meet:

• Plavac mali. Dalmatia's red grape. It makes powerful wines, with black fruit and herbs; the best-known vineyards are on the southern slopes, around Sveta Nedjelja and Ivan Dolac, which get the sun and its reflection off the sea.
• Bogdanuša. Hvar's own white grape, grown mostly on the Stari Grad plain. A fresh, floral wine.
• Others. Pošip, maraština, rukatac and prč complete the list of the island's Dalmatian varieties.

What the outing is like

It is organised by Hvar Adventure, the activities company of Hvar town.

1. Departure from Hvar. You travel in an air-conditioned off-road vehicle or a minibus, with a driver and guide. The road crosses the island eastwards.
2. The Jelsa winery. Three wines and a prošek, with a selection of cheeses.
3. The family winery in Vrboska. The village of canals they call little Venice. In a traditional Dalmatian winery you try five more wines, with ham and cheese. The tasting ends here.
4. Return to Hvar.

Times, duration and price

It lasts about four hours. It leaves at 17:00 from April to September and at 16:00 in October. In a group it costs €150 per person, for groups of 2 to 8. Privately, €250 per person if there are two of you and €220 per person from three. It includes transport with a driver, the guide and the tasting with snacks at both wineries. It does not include tips or what you buy.

How to book

On the Hvar Adventure website, by email or by phone. In July and August, a few days ahead.

Who it is for

For adults. If you are going with minors, check with the company first. If you are vegetarian or have allergies, say so when booking, because the accompaniment is cheese and cold cuts.

On your own

If you sleep in Jelsa or Vrboska, Hvar Tourism publishes on its website a list of the island's wineries: ask each whether it receives visitors. Inland, in Pitve, there is the ethnographic viticulture collection and wine museum, with tools and objects from country life. For a walk or bike ride among vines, see the Stari Grad plain.