Šolta is probably one of the most beautiful islands in Croatia, and its great advantage is that it is easily accessible by ferry from Split. The only port where the ferry docks is Rogač, located right opposite Split.

Šolta is beautiful in all seasons.
You can also visit the island on a one-day trip, rent a bike and explore it by visiting vineyards and wineries. Šolta is one of the best islands in Croatia for exploring on “two” wheels.

You can rent bicycles in Stomorska, Maslinica, Rogač and Gornje Selo.

Get to know the beautiful island from where the top-quality wine drops flow, where sunlit vineyards stand proudly, above which the blue sky embraces gentle white clouds. Feel the wind that brings freshness from the sea and the smell of salt. A true idyll to rest the body and soul. The villages of Šolta are colorful, preserved authentic examples of the Mediterranean architecture, and let wine be your inspiration for discovering new tastes and smells!

Tradition, love, effort, and wine varieties that are being stolen from oblivion
So let’s go from Stomorska through the beautiful and fragrant nature to Gornje selo to visit the family farm Kalebić Jakupčević owned by Alen Jakupčević.
In this beautiful rural village, located at the foot of Gornje polje, in the center of which is the church of St. John the Baptist is home to a small family winery.

Taste Dalmatia’s darkest wine
“Dobričić” is an old, original grape variety that is primarily grown on the island of Šolta. It is characterized by an extremely dark, ruby-red color.
Dobričić is an ancient variety of red wine, an autochthonous variety that grows on the island of Šolta. It is definitely one of the significant autochthonous red wines of Dalmatia, since the most famous grape variety in Croatia – plavac mali – was created from the crossbreeding of crljenka kaštelanski (in the world this variety is known as zinfandel).

In Gornje Selo, there is also an unmissable Agroturizam winery owned by Vicko Kaštelanac.
This small family winery located in a traditional Dalmatian tavern offers tastings and presentations of local products, wine and olive oil and is a must-see for all wine lovers.

The wine story of the Kaštelanac family dates back to 1762, when red wine was made from the Dobričić vine in the traditional, old-fashioned way.

Did you know that there were once 8 million vines of dobričić on Šolta and that it was on this island that Mr. Vick Kaštelan from Gornje Selo had vine samples taken for research into the origin of California Zinfandel? From then until today, with hard work and patience, this beautiful wine story has come about, inspired by the desire to preserve an authentic grape variety. Excellent wine is not the only thing you can discover in their tavern! There is also extra virgin olive oil and green and black olives.

From the Gornje selo, we continue towards the family farm Burica, which is located in Grohote.
Winemaker Vicko Burica inherited vineyards from his grandfather and father, but also his love for the vine and its cultivation. His family farm has a total of 4,300 vines of Dobričić Maraština and Merlot.

The winery is especially dedicated to the growth and promotion of the local Dobričić wine variety!

With perfect wines in the warm friendly atmosphere of the host who will host you, you will find out everything you are interested in about wine, sailing and diving of which he is a lover.

From Grohot, we continue to Srednje Selo to the Marinac Winery owned by Tomislav Purtić. In the Marinac Winery in Srednje Selo, in addition to the pošip for which the winery is known, you can enjoy Dobričić and Mali Plavac, as well as award-winning extra virgin olive oils!
The Purtić family has always been engaged in wine production. As far back as 300 years ago, the name Purtić on the island was associated with viticulture and olives. It is a tradition that has been maintained until today. The winery is located in a stone house, and the beautifully decorated courtyard is the first thing that will delight you. The wine story continues in the tavern, that is, the wine cellar, where you will learn about wines and oils.

Taste the top white wine from the island of red wines

We stay a little longer in Srednje Selo, a typical village of this area whose architecture represents an ideal environment for anyone who wants to experience rural tourism.

We will get to know the Balić Winery – owned by Karl Balić, which is based on ecological production and the most important goal is quality wine and olive oil. For 200 years, the family was exclusively engaged in viticulture and olive growing.

Karl Balić’s winery is located in an old family house, and the Konoba is designed for pleasant gatherings of small groups and wine presentations, where guests will taste wines, hear the Šoltan story about Dobričić and enjoy the local food.

From Srednje selo, we head towards Poganica bay to visit the Kalebić winery owned by Robert Kalebić, whose vineyard covers 20 hectares, planted with 140,000 plavac, crljenko, dobričić, pošip and merlot vines.

You will see one of the largest vineyards in Dalmatia. Impressive.
Among the black varieties, Šoltan dobričić predominates, there is also mali plavac, crljenak and merlot. Of the white varieties, pošip is the most represented along with chardonnay and viognier.
Bunje, round field houses built in dry stone have also been preserved in the vineyard.
At the International Wine Challenge, the most influential, impartial and strictly judged wine competition in the world, their wine Gaštald Pošip 2018, a white wine of the same variety, won a silver medal.

In order to give the whole project of the island’s green and blue furrows a new touch, the entrepreneur from Šolta planted olive trees along the edge of the vineyard in order to protect the vines from salt. The story about the vineyard, the varieties, the effort and the rewards will be best told by the owner himself.

Traveling is one of the most beautiful experiences in life, so take a trip to Šolta and make sure that a visit to wineries is an unforgettable experience

Photos: Pointers Travel
Photo of the vineyard on the TZ Šolta hill