Our 1st stop: Frozen in stone:  Velo Grablje 

Although the island of Hvar was first settled in 384 BC by the Greeks, who called it Pharos, the island’s golden age didn’t start until more than 1000 years later. We’ll experience part of this great legacy on our first stop, the village of Velo Grablje. Founded in the 14th century, its classic stone houses, courtyards and narrow streets all echo a time when life was all about nature, when to plant and when to harvest.

Today the village is nearly abandoned with just a handful of permanent villagers. But way back then it was rich and prosperous, famous for its good wine, olive oil, honey and lavender oil—which was prized all over Europe for its quality.

If you are on the island in May and June, Velo Grablje and the surrounding area is alive with lavender fields.  The herb only blossoms for a few short weeks and then its precious oil is quickly distilled to retain as much of its heavenly scent as well as its unusual medicinal properties.

OPTIONAL Sights, smells, songs and sweets: Velo Grablje 

(we can offer this additional stop by special request!)

We will be welcomed by the town’s lavender guru who will give us a short presentation about this remarkable herb. Then it’s a private a capella performance of traditional songs, followed by some traditional sweets in the courtyard of an ancient church!  Our final surprise is an exclusive visit to the the island’s lavender distillery and museum! 

Our 2nd stop: High as a kite—Sveti Nikola, bring your binoculars!

(we can also organize a special pop up mountain top surprise by special request)

Have a look at OUR VIDEO >>

Our next stop is Saint Nicholas (626 m), the island’s highest peak. From here there is a 360 degree unobstructed view all across the island. You can see the islands of Brac, Korcula and Vis. On a very clear day, you can even see the coast of Italy!  So bring binoculars, a kite and enjoy the thrills. Below the high point of St. Nicholas, on a sloping sunny hillside, lies Sveta Nedilja,  a village surrounded with steep vineyards. Almost impossible to tend, these south-facing hills, swept by the sea winds, are considered to be the premier location for growing Hvar’s indigenous plavac mali grapes

Bonus:  Visit to the oldest continuously farmed plot on the planet – Ager field, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in Stari Grad

On our way to lunch, we’ll wind our way down through the village of Dol for a stop in Stari Grad to see the Ager, the Stari Grad Plain, the biggest and the most fertile field on Hvar and arguably in the entire Adriatic.  The field is 6 km long and extends east to west all the way from Vrboska bay to the Stari Grad gulf.

Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site (one of only 11 in Croatia) it’s been continuously farmed for 2,400 years!  What makes it so extraordinary is that most of the plots, carefully laid out in rectangular geometric patterns (73 of them, approx, 181m x 905m) with dry stone boundary walls, are still here growing fruits and vegetables after 2,400 years!

Not only that, but the Greeks also built a rainwater recovery system with tanks and gutters to keep the land productive. More than a 100 archaeological sites have been discovered here, from both the Greek and later Roman periods, including a Roman “villa rustica” situated north of the Jelsa-Stari Grad road and a Greek watchtower, Maslinovik, north of the island’s sport airport.

OPTIONAL: When we are here in the Ager field area, we can add another wine tasting. Close by there are excellent Hvar wine producers we work with, so we are happy to help you with a suggestion of which of them would be the best fit for your interest!

Our last stop: Eat, drink and celebrate at the Lacman Family Winery

After all that off-road adventure, get ready to enjoy a fabulous home-cooked meal by members of the Lacman family.  In addition to traditional delicacies of wonderful cheeses, cured meats, homemade jams and more, what follows is pure inspiration–fresh and delicious from the sea as well as the garden and the land.  So be prepared to be stuffed.  And to make sure you digest it well, Lacman wine of course!

The winery specializes in producing long maceration, unfiltered, natural wine using natural yeasts, with minimum human intervention and as little chemistry as possible. Even Lacman’s storage techniques are natural– in 500 to 600 liter clay qvevri vessels which are kept underground. While rare in Europe, this method of storing wine has been practiced for thousands of years by ancient cultures and is still being used today in the Republic of Georgia.  The wines you will be tasting include the most prized indigenous Hvar grapes like plavac mali, bogdanuša, maraština, posip and kuc. 

With an annual production of less than 2500 bottles and not sold in any store, whether you like a refreshing rose or a full-bodied red, you will love the experience of drinking Lacman wine

Sitting al fresco on the veranda surrounded by lush hills and the family whose name is on the bottle—what a perfect way to end a perfect day!