On the (Wine & Olive Oil) Road
The best way to explore Istria's wine and olive oil roads is to pick up a map produced by the Istrian Tourist Board (www.istra.hr) that lists about six dozen winemakers and two dozen olive oil producers in the region. Most of Istria's wineries are in the country's north central region, and you will need a car to get from one venue to the next. Roads do have directional signs marking the wine and oil routes, and producers have marked the paths to their doors in some cases. Don't miss the cellars of Kozlovic, Kabola, and Matijasic, all full-fledged wineries that have expanded their production into microclimate vintages. Kozlovic is not set up for unannounced tasters, so call ahead, but Kabola welcomes drop-ins. Matijasic requires reservations for its accommodations. Below, read about how to reach our favorites.
Kozlovic Winery at Vale 78 Momjan (tel. 052/779-177; www.kozlovic.hr) produces 100,000 bottles a year and is open from 8am to noon and 1 to 5pm Monday through Saturday. Closed Sunday.
Kabola Winery (tel. 052/779-033) is in Kremenje between Buje and Momjan and includes a small winemaking museum and a knock-out restaurant, Taverna Marino (tel. 052/779-047; fax 052/779-047; www.kabola.hr). Open for tasting 10am to 5pm Tuesday through Saturday.
Matijasic Winery is a working vineyard near Motovun where you can spend the night and perhaps pick a few grapes, too (Pekasi, 52424 Motovun, Istria; tel. 052/682-126).
Tip: You can stop in at any of the olive oil producers on the map to purchase products, but if you want to see a pressing in action or pick a few olives, reservations are required. Consult Istria's Olive Oil Road Map for details and contact information.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
