Wine Tasting in Makarska: Where to Go, What to Try and How to Book

If you are staying in Makarska, you can spend an afternoon visiting a winery near Imotski or include a tasting in a trip to Brač. The best option depends on how much time you have and whether you want transport included.

Grabovac offers several tasting packages and an excursion with return transfers from the Makarska Riviera. You can also arrange a visit directly with Đuzel Winery near Imotski. If you plan to visit Bol on Brač, Stina offers tastings on the town’s waterfront.

Before you book, look at the winery’s location and plan the journey there and back. This will help you choose a visit that fits the rest of your holiday.

• If you already have transport, you can book a tasting directly with a winery and choose a visit that fits your day.
• If everyone in your group wants to taste the wine, an excursion with a driver makes the journey there and back easier.
• If you want to visit a winery on Brač, plan the tasting around your boat connections and any travel needed on the island.

You can try local wines over dinner, but a guided tasting gives you more time to learn about them. As you taste, you can ask your host where the grapes were grown and how each wine was made.

• Grabovac offers both short tastings and longer visits for people who want to spend more time at the winery.
• The winery is at Križnog puta 17 in Donji Proložac, inland from the Makarska Riviera.
• You can book your visit through the Grabovac Winery website.

Grabovac’s Mini tasting costs €27 and lasts an hour. It includes four wines served with cheese and bread. The Portfolio tasting costs €38, lasts 90 minutes and includes five wines with cured meats, cheese and bread.

For a longer visit, the Winemaker tasting costs €58 and lasts two and a half hours. The Connoisseur experience costs €96 and lasts three and a half hours. Both include a cellar tour and samples taken from barrels.

Grabovac also lists a four-hour excursion from the Makarska Riviera for €70 per person. It includes return transport arranged through Simply Adria, five wines, a selection of food and a cellar visit.

If you book a standard tasting, you will need to arrange your own transport. Choose the excursion if you want the journey included. Reserve ahead, particularly if you need the tasting to fit a fixed travel schedule.

Simply Adria takes small groups by minibus, with pickups in Makarska, Podgora, Tučepi, Baška Voda and Brela. The trip combines a visit to the winery with a guided tasting and local food.

Set aside an afternoon for the trip and use the times in your reservation to plan the rest of the day. Make sure you know where to meet the minibus, as the pickup point may be different from your accommodation.

People who do not drink wine can join too, and a non-alcoholic welcome drink can be arranged in advance. Mention this when booking and ask for the total price for your group.

An excursion with a driver is convenient for couples and friends who all want to try the wines. You can enjoy the tasting together without arranging separate journeys to and from the winery.

The food served during a tasting may be a small plate rather than a full meal. Unless your package includes lunch, eat beforehand so that you can enjoy the afternoon without getting hungry.

• Đuzel is an option if you would like to arrange your tasting directly with the winery.
• The winery is at Glavina Gornja 81, near Imotski.
• You can request a visit using the reservation form on the Vina Đuzel website.

Đuzel makes Kujundžuša, Trnjak Premium, rosé and Chardonnay 700. When arranging your visit, tell the winery whether you prefer white wines, red wines or a selection of both.

Book before travelling from Makarska. Give the winery your preferred date and group size, and say whether you would like food with the tasting. Ask how long the visit lasts and what the total price will be.

A visit to Đuzel may fit well into a day exploring the Imotski area. If you are interested in a particular wine, such as Kujundžuša or Trnjak, mention it when making your reservation.

Arrange your return journey as well as the tasting. Booking an appointment with the winery does not automatically include transport from Makarska.

• Stina is a convenient option if you are already planning to spend time in Bol.
• The winery is at Riva 16 on Bol’s waterfront, on the island of Brač.
• You can reserve your tasting through the Stina Winery website.

Stina’s White Selection costs €28.50 per person and includes four wines. The Red Selection costs €36.50 and includes three wines, while Stina Classics costs €38.50 and includes four. Each package includes food and a guided tour of the winery.

The selections feature Dalmatian varieties such as Pošip, Vugava and Plavac Mali. Choose the wines you usually enjoy, or book the mixed selection if you want to try both whites and reds.

To reach Bol from Makarska by public ferry, you first sail to Sumartin and then travel across Brač. The ferry crossing takes roughly an hour. You will also need time for boarding and the journey between Sumartin and Bol.

Choose your return sailing before booking the tasting. A late-afternoon session may leave too little time to reach the ferry, so consider an earlier visit or an overnight stay on Brač.

A standard tasting at the winery does not necessarily include a visit to the vineyards. If you want to see where the grapes grow, choose an experience that includes a vineyard tour.

Kujundžuša: a white wine to explore inland

Try Kujundžuša if you want to explore wines from the Imotski area. Grabovac makes it from its Imotski vineyards, and Đuzel also produces it as a dry white wine.

If the tasting allows it, try Kujundžuša alongside another white wine. Comparing the two can help you notice differences in aroma, freshness and how they feel in your mouth.

Trnjak: a red to ask about at Đuzel

Đuzel ages its Trnjak Premium in oak. Ask your host how this affects the flavour and how it compares with the other red wines you are tasting.

You do not need to know anything about Trnjak before trying it. Tell your host whether you usually enjoy lighter reds, fuller wines or wines with less oak flavour, and ask what they recommend.

Pošip, Vugava and Plavac Mali on Brač

At Stina, you can choose a tasting that introduces you to white wines, red wines or a mixture of both. Look at the wines included in each package when deciding which one to book.

The grapes used by a winery may come from several vineyards. Ask where the grapes for your favourite wine were grown; the answer can help you understand more about the region.

For more ideas on what to eat alongside the wines, explore our guide to Makarska’s local food and flavours.

Start with the price of the tasting, then add anything the package does not include. A cheaper tasting may cost more overall if you need to pay separately for transport.

If two of you are travelling, a private return transfer may add considerably to the price. A larger group may be able to share that cost. Ask for the total fare, including any waiting time, before booking.

For a visit to Brač, include the ferry fare and transport between the arrival port and Bol. Allow for a meal if you are staying all day, as well as any bottles you would like to buy.

The prices listed above help you compare the options, but the total depends on the package and date you book. Look at the transport, food and activities included when deciding which visit offers what you want.

When contacting a winery, give your preferred date, the number of people in your group and where you are staying. Say whether you need transport, and mention any dietary or accessibility requirements.

Before paying, make sure you have answers to these questions.

• Where should we meet, and is pickup from our accommodation included?
• How long does the tasting last, which wines are included, and will we visit the cellar or vineyards?
• What food is included, and can you cater for our dietary requirements?
• Can children and people who do not drink wine join us, and is a private tasting available?
• What time does the visit finish, and how will we get back to our accommodation?
• What is the total price, when do we pay, and what happens if we need to cancel?

If you have limited mobility, ask whether the visit involves stairs or long periods of standing. For a birthday, anniversary or other special occasion, agree any extras with the winery when you book.

Choose an excursion with transport if you want an afternoon out with fewer arrangements to make. If you already plan to explore inland, book a winery visit along your route. If you are visiting Bol, see whether a tasting at Stina fits your time on the island.

Leave some time before and after the visit so that you do not have to rush for a connection. Keeping the evening free also lets you return to your accommodation, rest and decide where to have dinner.

When choosing your accommodation in Makarska, consider how easily you can reach the excursion meeting point or harbour. A convenient base makes it easier to combine a beach holiday with a day exploring Dalmatian wine.

Can I go wine tasting from Makarska without hiring a car?

You can join an excursion that includes return transport. If you book directly with a winery, arrange how you will get there and back.

Are the wineries in Makarska town?

The wineries in this guide are outside Makarska town. Grabovac and Đuzel are in the Imotski area, and Stina is in Bol on Brač. The most suitable choice depends on how far you want to travel and how much time you have.

Do I need to know about wine before booking?

You do not need any wine knowledge to enjoy a guided tasting. Tell your host what you usually like to drink and ask questions as you try each wine.

Is a wine tasting the same as a vineyard tour?

A wine tasting may take place in a tasting room or cellar without a visit to the vineyards. If you want to see the vines, book a package that includes a vineyard tour.

Can I combine Stina Winery with a day trip from Makarska?

You can include Stina in a trip to Brač if the transport times work with your reservation. The ferry from Makarska arrives in Sumartin, so allow time to travel to Bol and return for your sailing.

Image credit: Plavac wine — Sl-Ziga / Wikimedia Commons / public domain.