Family-run Vineyard Tour & Award Winning Wine Tasting/Delicacies

Come hungry and curious. This small-group outing takes you from Trogir to a working family estate in Kaštel Novi, where vineyards, olive trees, almond trees, homemade food, wine, and local music come together. You are not just seated at a tasting counter. You walk through the land, learn how wine and olive oil are made, then eat and drink beside the orchards.

I especially like the personal welcome from Kathrin, whose family works the estate and leads the experience with warmth and pride. I also like the chance to bottle your own wine in the cellar, a simple hands-on touch that gives the tasting a lasting memory. The main consideration is price: at $225.18 per person, this is a costly three-and-a-half-hour outing, so it makes the most sense if you value a private-feeling farm visit, a full tasting, and a substantial food spread.

• A working family estate: Walk through vineyards, olive trees, and almond groves in the historical Bijaći area.
• Three wines and seven liquors: Taste wine, rakija, and homemade liqueurs, including green walnut and limoncello.
• A generous Dalmatian table: Expect prosciutto, aged cheese, sardines, olives, Peka bread, stuffed peppers, dried figs, and more.
• Wine straight from the cellar: Learn about fermentation tanks, winemaking tools, and grappa distilling.
• Traditional music and dress: Kathrin plays Croatian songs on her accordion while wearing local costume.
• Small and adult-focused: The group is capped at eight people, and the experience is not recommended for children under 18.

From Trogir to the Bijaći Estate

The experience begins at 11 a.m. at Put Bijaća 38 in Kaštel Novi, near Trogir. Pickup is offered, but you should confirm the exact pickup arrangement when booking, since the listed meeting point is the family estate itself.

Kaštel Novi sits along the Bay of Kaštela, between Trogir and Split. The setting gives the outing a useful change of pace. Instead of spending another few hours among busy streets and historic stone buildings, you head into cultivated land where the day’s food and drink begin.

The estate is in Bijaći, an area tied to an important moment in Croatian history. A charter from Prince Trpimir in the year 852 mentioned the word Croat for the first time. That detail is not just decoration. It gives the farm visit a sense of place, connecting the grapes, olives, and family traditions to a much older Croatian story.

The group size is limited to eight. That matters here. Agricultural tours work best when you can ask questions, walk at an easy pace, and hear the person explaining the work. A large bus group would change the character of this experience completely.

Walking Through the Vineyards and Olive Groves

The first part is an agricultural walk through the olive and almond orchards and the vineyard. Kathrin explains the work behind the products you will later taste, including pruning, care, grape harvesting, and olive harvesting.

This is where the tour earns its value beyond a standard wine flight. A glass of wine can seem effortless when it arrives at a table. Walking among the vines and hearing about harvest days gives you a better sense of the labor involved. The same is true of olive oil. You see the trees and hear about the care needed before the bottle reaches your kitchen.

The almond trees add another local touch. They are not merely background scenery. Almonds appear later in the food served at the estate, including sugar-coated almonds, so the walk connects the growing land with the meal.

You should expect this section to be informative rather than strenuous. The supplied details do not give a specific walking distance or terrain information, so wear comfortable shoes and avoid arriving in footwear meant only for a formal dinner. The tour is built around the farm, not a polished tasting room.

Why Bijaći Adds More Than a Scenic Backdrop

The location gives you views toward the bay while keeping the focus on agriculture. You are surrounded by the ingredients and work that shape the tasting: grapes for wine, olives for oil, almonds for sweets, and fruit used in some of the homemade treats.

I like this kind of setting because it makes the food easier to understand. Extra virgin olive oil is not an abstract regional product when you have just walked through the olive grove. Dried figs and sugared almonds feel more connected to the area when they appear as part of a family spread rather than as packaged souvenirs.

The estate also gives the experience a strong family identity. Kathrin and her husband are described as people who genuinely enjoy their work. That enthusiasm is important, but it also means the mood is personal rather than formal. If you want a technical tasting led by a certified wine expert with detailed tasting charts, this may not be the right fit. If you want to meet the people who make the food and drink, it is a better match.

Inside the Cellar: Fermentation Tanks and Homemade Spirits

After the walk, you descend into the wine cellar. Here, the tasting moves closer to the production itself. You taste wine directly from the fermentation tanks while learning about the tools used for winemaking and grappa distilling.

That is a nice contrast to the orchard walk. Outside, you learn where the ingredients grow. Inside, you see how they become wine and spirits. The tank tasting also gives you a chance to consider wine at an earlier stage, before it is simply poured into a finished bottle.

One especially memorable activity is bottling your own wine. The exact format is not described, but the experience gives you the chance to take part in the process rather than only watch it. It is also a practical souvenir. If you are flying home, check your airline and baggage rules before planning to carry a bottle with you.

The spirits add variety to the tasting. You can expect seven liquors in total, with rakija among the highlights. Green walnut rakija is one of the more distinctive options, while homemade limoncello offers a brighter, sweeter contrast. The selection gives you a useful introduction to Croatian homemade spirits, though the amount you drink is naturally up to you.

Since the activity includes three wines and seven liquors, pace yourself. You will also be eating, and the tasting takes place over several parts of the afternoon. Enjoying small pours slowly will let you notice the differences without turning the final portion into a blur.

A Dalmatian Table Beneath the Almond Trees

The food is a major reason to consider this outing. After the cellar visit, you sit in a peaceful dining area between the olive and almond orchards for a spread of homemade Dalmatian delicacies and paired drinks.

The sample menu includes:

• Prosciutto
• Aged cheese
• Peka bread
• Sardines
• Olives
• Filled bell peppers
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Dried figs
• Sugar-coated almonds
• Orange peels

This is more than a few crackers placed beside three tasting glasses. It is a generous country-style meal with salty, savory, sweet, and oily flavors that work naturally with wine and spirits. The olive oil is especially important because it lets you taste the estate’s work in a direct way.

Peka bread, sardines, olives, and prosciutto bring the familiar coastal flavors of Dalmatia. Dried figs, almonds, and candied orange peels give the table a sweet finish. Filled peppers add another homemade element and make the meal feel less like a wine-pairing exercise and more like being served at a family table.

The exact menu may vary, so you should treat the sample dishes as a guide rather than a promise of every item. If you have dietary restrictions, ask ahead. The provided information does not specify vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or allergy accommodations.

Accordion Music and a Personal Croatian Welcome

While you eat and taste, Kathrin plays traditional Croatian songs on her accordion while wearing local costume. This is one of the details that sets the experience apart from a standard winery visit.

The music is not a staged concert with a separate performer. It is part of the family welcome, taking place in the same orchard setting where you are eating. That makes the atmosphere relaxed and personal, though it also means the experience may not suit you if you prefer a quiet, formal meal.

The combination of costume, songs, homemade food, and family-made drinks gives the afternoon a clear cultural angle. You are not only learning production facts. You are seeing how food, music, clothing, and hospitality fit together in a local setting.

Several memorable details make the occasion feel generous. Kathrin has sent people home with sugared almonds and dried figs, and the homemade snacks are described as plentiful. Those small take-home treats are not the reason to book, but they are a thoughtful finishing touch.

What the $225.18 Price Really Covers

At $225.18 per person, this is not an inexpensive wine tasting. The duration is about three hours and 30 minutes, and you should judge the price against the full experience rather than the number of wine glasses alone.

You are paying for a small group of no more than eight, an agricultural walk, explanations of olive oil and wine production, a cellar visit, three wines, seven liquors, a substantial food spread, traditional music, and a family-hosted setting. Pickup is also offered, which may add convenience depending on where you are staying.

The value is strongest for someone who would otherwise book several separate activities: a winery visit, a food tasting, and a cultural performance. Here, those pieces are combined in one afternoon. The personal contact is also part of the cost. This is a family estate, not a high-volume tasting room built for large coach groups.

The value is weaker if you are mainly looking for a quick tasting or if you do not drink alcohol. Wine and liquor are central to the activity, and the menu is designed around pairing food with those drinks. You also need to be comfortable paying a premium for atmosphere and hospitality, not only for the amount of food and drink served.

Who Will Enjoy This Experience Most

I would recommend this outing to adults who want a close look at rural Dalmatian food and drink without committing to a full-day excursion. It suits couples, small groups of friends, and anyone who prefers meeting local producers over visiting commercial attractions.

It is also a good choice if you care about the story behind a product. You will walk among the crops, see the cellar, hear about the tools, and taste the results. The wine bottling activity adds a hands-on element that can appeal to people who enjoy practical souvenirs.

The tour is not recommended for children under 18. That is sensible given the three wines and seven liquors. Service animals are allowed, but the published details do not explain the walking surface or whether every part of the estate is easy to access, so ask before booking if that matters to you.

If your ideal Croatian day includes beaches, swimming, or a packed sightseeing schedule, this will not fill that role. It is a slow food and farm experience. Set aside the full three-and-a-half hours and let the afternoon unfold.

Practical Tips for a Smooth Visit

The listed start time is 11 a.m., and the activity ends back at the meeting point. Since pickup is offered, confirm where and when you will be collected rather than assuming the estate meeting point is replaced by hotel transport.

Dress for an agricultural property. Comfortable shoes are the sensible choice, and clothing that can handle a little dust or contact with outdoor surfaces is more practical than formal wear.

Come ready to eat and drink, but do not arrive dehydrated or rush through the alcohol. Three wines and seven liquors create a full tasting lineup. Small sips, food between tastings, and a relaxed pace will help you enjoy the range.

The tour is offered in English. Confirmation arrives at booking, and free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations made inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Should You Book the Vineyard Visit?

Book it if you want a small, personal Dalmatian food and wine experience with real family involvement. The strongest parts are the walk through the vineyard and olive grove, the cellar tasting, the generous meal, and Kathrin’s warm hospitality. The music, local costume, homemade rakija, and bottle-filling activity make it feel more distinctive than a basic winery stop.

Think twice if the $225.18 price is above your comfort level, if you do not drink, or if you want a short and strictly formal wine tasting. For the right person, though, this is a memorable way to connect Trogir’s surroundings with the food, drink, and traditions of the people who produce them.

FAQ

Where does the experience take place?

It takes place at a family-run estate in the historical Bijaći area of Kaštel Novi, Croatia. The listed meeting address is Put Bijaća 38, 21217, Kaštel Novi.

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 11 a.m.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts approximately three hours and 30 minutes.

Is pickup available?

Yes, pickup is offered. The listed meeting point is the family estate, so confirm the pickup details when booking.

Where does the activity finish?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

How many people can join?

The group has a maximum of eight people.

Is the experience offered in English?

Yes, it is offered in English.

What drinks are included?

The tasting includes three wines and seven liquors. The experience also includes wine tasted directly from fermentation tanks and homemade spirits such as rakija.

What food is served?

The sample menu includes Dalmatian delicacies such as prosciutto, aged cheese, Peka bread, sardines, olives, filled peppers, extra virgin olive oil, dried figs, sugar-coated almonds, and orange peels.

Can children join the experience?

The activity is not recommended for children under 18.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, you can cancel for a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s local start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not accepted for a refund.