Herzegovina wine and food experience is a story about Herzegovina and its famous indigenous wines.
This is a story about two millennium tradition of winemaking in this region.
On Herzegovina Wine and Food Experience tour you will learn some incredible things about grapevine and history of Bosnia&Herzegovina.

Because of its climate, which provides loads of sun, hot summers, and mild winters,  Herzegovina has a perfect environment for growing grapes and producing top-quality wines. The sheer quantity and quality of grapes from the two indigenous  varieties, Žilavka and Blatina, which have long ago acclimated to this region, is unparalleled anywhere else in our country. The vines have a close proximity to the Adriatic  sea, and they grow in diverse topsoil.  Herzegovina is the land of sun and rocks, and its glades and vales are covered with shrubs and trees such as thorn-bush, oak, ash, juniper and pine trees. To each passer-by this ambiance offers unforgettable scenes and atmosphere pleasing both the eyes and the soul.

What can one expect from a full-day wine tour in the country with a 2000 year old wine-making tradition? Wine tasting is obviously an essential part of the day, but on this tour, we want you to understand the history, the traditions of Herzegovinian wine, and to fall in love with our country and its wines the way we have.

Herzegovina wine and food experience tour takes us in two of the most charismatic and respected winemakers in Bosnia&Herzegovina, both based in the picturesque wine country of Mostar.
Family Čorić in his sensational wine tasting cellars Andrija Paoča, which are based on the rocky desert-like plateau, and his exceptional use of indigenous grapes as well as international varieties is a wonderful journey of discovery.
Much smaller in production, but far more experimental with his unique organic wines made from indigenous grapes from Herzegovina, Josip Brkić candlelit tasting experience in his family wine cellar could not be more intimate. Add to that a selection of his excellent flavoured olive oils, and here is the perfect introduction to the fruits of Herzegovina, expertly handled.

We have carefully created Herzegovina wine and food experience to showcase the incredible beauty of the Mostar area and to introduce you to the best eats and drinks that the Herzegovina has to offer. We are passionate about our home, and the delicious wine and food produced here in the lush valleys and on the slopes of our picturesque mountains that frame the beautiful Herzegovina region. Is there a better way to discover this part of Europe – whether you’re visiting, or call the region home – than to relax with a tour guided by a friendly guide whose goal is to craft the perfect experience for you and your adventure buddies?
Your unforgettable adventure awaits!

Explore wine-growing area of Herzegovina region in one day! This is the only area in Bosnia&Herzegovina with the dominant influence of the Mediterranean climate, which affects local wines, cuisine and people.

Herzegovina wine and food experience is available all year around!
Departing daily from Mostar, but can be arranged from elsewhere, if requested.

TOUR PRICE:
2-4 persons – 95 eur/person
5-8 persons – 85 eur/person

Departure Time: 10:00 AM (departure time can be flexible and tailored to your needs)
Departure Place: Mostar (or from any other location if requested)
Duration: 5 – 6 hours

PLEASE NOTE: Our tours are private tours for independent visitors and for pre-formed groups.We pick you up from your accommodation at any time and the tour is fully flexible and customizable. The point of difference with our private tours is that you will get a unique experience and you will feel like a local. Our tours take the concept of different one notch further by tailoring your touring experience to each and every of your particular wishes and desires. Your needs and comfort are paramount to our success so rest assured there is no compromise on quality. If you have any questions or concerns about joining one of our trips as a solo traveler please Contact us. A personal touch​ is our trademark: we tailor each tour to your ​specific interests​. Just let us know!

Included in tour: 

• pick up and comfortable drive in a fully equipped air con vehicle to the starting point and return to   your place
• experienced tour driver-guide for small groups or individuals
• guided ride along the hidden beauties of the Mostar vineyards
• explore 2 carefully selected winery of the Herzegovina Wine Route and meet the local winemakers
• learn about wine production and culture from old wine-growing region
• wine tasting & sampling from wooden and inox barrels (cca 5 samples in each cellar)
• Herzegovinian meze (tapas) with delicious local home-made food
• relaxed atmosphere in a good company
• the best recommendations for unforgettable gourmet experience as well as for finding the best local products

Snapshot of Herzegovina Wine and Food Experience

You will be discovering 2 of the finest boutique wineries that the Mostar area has to offer, and having a day of wine adventuring, gorgeous views, and fun. Plan for a delightful  5 – 6 hour day tour packed with wine, views, and laughs.
Leave the city behind and take a relaxing day tour into the countryside where we combine the best of the history, the Neretva river valley, and the vines. You’ll discover some of our favourite hidden treasures and sample a wide variety of the Herzegovinian’s finest indigenous wines.

As we make our way south of Mostar, enjoy the views as we take you through the picturesque Imperial vineyards and magnificent valley of Neretva river.  These vineyards date back to the Austro-Hungarian times when the golden age of our viticulture began by the revival of wine-growing, which was done by the Habsburgs. Aware of the treasure they found in this rubble area, they started with the production immediately. The first wine station was positioned in Gnojnice village near Mostar, and was established in 1886. After numerous analyses, their educated people made selection and decided it was necessary to give absolute precedence to the local, native assortment. The Vienna Hofburg started with the production of those miraculous drinks ‘for own needs’, so the people named wine station ‘Imperial vineyards’.

As we make our way further, we arrive at our next destination the Ortodox monastery Žitomislići. The monastery is located below the hills, in the valley of the Neretva river, surrounded by vineyards, figs and pomegranates. It was built in the 16th century. Today, seven monks, who are working hard on the spiritual growth of believers , are taking care of the monastery. They process almost seven hectares of vineyards for the production of wine and brandy, and they also cultivate the olives.

Our journey  to the wine country of Čitluk from the picture-postcard valley of Neretva river takes us up winding hill roads. The view below of a patchwork of bright green vineyards is truly breathtaking. Andrija wine cellar is situated at the very heart of this hilly region. The high quality Andrija wines are the result of natural blessings like its sunny slopes, karst soil structure, famous bora and jugo winds and favorable Mediterranean climate. Here we will visit  the house of the rural tourism and winery Andrija Paoča where we have an opportunity to learn about history of wine growing in this area, and taste the wine and local food ( homemade young cheese “Škripavac”, homemade bread, smoked ham etc)
The best place for wine to show its power is in a winery or a cellar, where you enjoy immensely and learn a lot.

Then we will pass on to the Brkić wine cellar in the town of Čitluk. Josip Brkić is still the only organic winemaker in Bosnia Herzegovina. Using biodynamic practices and indigenous grapes, he’s making very pure and effusive wines and Mjesečar, a skin-fermented white wine made from 100% Žilavka, is exceptional. Mjesečar means the Moon Walker in Bosnian and it is Josip’s first wine made in a complete organic way. All the farming and winemaking work is done according to the phases of the Moon as you can see on the wine’s label. Sitting around the table, drinking wine and eating famous Livno sheep cheese, local high quality olive oil, fig jam and homemade prosciutto  with the Brkić family, you feel like you’ve been invited into a family member’s home for a pleasant getaway. For Josip, producing a new wine is like giving birth to a new life. The wine is magical.

To keep you going on this full-day wine extravaganza, we will stop for a delicious lunch (optionally) at Udovice restaurant on the hills near the  Mostar. This is one of the best traditional restaurants in this area with local specialities such as a lamb on the spit. In this restaurant, it is also possible to taste home-made table wines and other delicious local products. When you marry a good wine with a local gastronomy such as Herzegovinian prosciutto, cheese, lamb or brudet/brodeto (a stew made from frogs and eels) then the pleasure is ultimate.

Indigenous varieties of Herzegovina

• Blatina

  Blatina is a native variety of Herzegovina. It is one of the very few varieties with the unisexual flowering plant giving rise to female flowers, and for that reason it is always cultivated in plantations with other varieties such as indigenous Trnjak, Alicante bouschet (Kambuša), Merlot, which at the same time pollinate Blatina. This variety gives powerful and fresh dry wines which usually should mature a few years in wooden barrels. It has a dark ruby red color.  Blatina will often exhibit aromas and flavors that are spice and coffee-driven. Longer aging will often result in dry chocolate flavors as well.  Although the flower is feminine, it is often said that wine is masculine. It follows up from the old folk proverb: ‘Žilavka je puna smijeha, a Blatina puna grijeha’ (literally: ‘Žilavka is full of laughter, yet Blatina is a full of sin!’). Therefore the most respected red variety in Herzegovina is Blatina! Production is focused in the area of Mostar and around the towns of Čitluk, Međugorje, Ljubuški, and Čapljina.

• Žilavka

  The indigenous white Žilavka (zhee-lav-ka) is ideally suited to the Mediterranean climate and limestone plateaus of Čitluk where it has been grown for over a 2000 years. She flourishes in dry conditions and when planted on rocky and shallow terrains. Wine made from Žilavka grapes is a harmonious top quality wine with a characteristic scent. It is assumed that name is derived from fine and small veins visible through the transparent grape skins at the time of full ripeness of the grapes (note: žila means vein). Žilavka carries with her a seal of Herzegovina! For the first time the story about her broke out when the rewards started coming in, namely medals at the tasting competitions and festivals in Budapest (1896), Brussels (1897), London, Marseille, Paris and Vienna (1898). Wine made from Žilavka usually has greenish-yellow colour, it is medium-bodied with harmonious acidity coupled with exceptionally pleasurable fullness and varietal bouquet.

Please note:

We reserve the right to change the program if one of the proposed wineries is not able to provide us with tasting services on the desired day of the visit. We guarantee that any of the alternatives on our Herzegovina Wine Route will be of equal quality and pleasant experience. Some of our favorites would be Emporia Royal Vineyards Mostar and Marjanovic Family Wine Cellar. All wineries that we offer to our clients are carefully selected thanks to our many years of experience and friendship with top oenologists.

Tour usually starts from Mostar, but could be arranged from Sarajevo,Dubrovnik or elsewhere, if requested.

Our experience allows us to adapt to the wishes and needs of our clients to make them ours.
The guides are also the drivers. They pick you up at your hotel or apartment and bring you back there again at the end of the tour. We use a fleet air-conditioned SUVs, minivans and comfortable cars.
All our efforts serve one single purpose: to make our clients happy.
Herzeg Day Tours offers pleasant and effective transfer + tour arrangements from your location elsewhere in the region to Mostar and vice versa, with many opportunities to visit attractive locations and photo stops along the way.
All our tours can be arranged according to your preferences and depending on your needs, so feel free to Contact us and we will send you our offer.