Think picture perfect coastal towns. Think glittering blue waters set against a white pebbly shoreline. Think pinewood scented wine by the sea.
Sound like your dream vacation?
Edivo Vina, an underwater winery in the wine guzzling country of Croatia will take your Mediterranean fantasy to a whole new level. Offering you the enticing combo of a scuba diving adventure with a side of vino, the winery is cradled by the Adriatic Sea, in the town of Drače, about an hour north of Dubrovnik, on the sunny slopes of the Pelješac peninsula.
Wine connoisseurs and curious travellers are invited to get into a wet suit, don a pair of googles and dive underwater to try the free samples and explore a one-of-a-kind ageing process of what they call the Navis Mysterium, or sea mystery wine.
Apart from the amphorae wine, wine bottles are also aged at the Croatian winery in the shimmering Adriatic sea. A nearby sunken boat at the bottom of the Mali Ston Bay is used to store the amphorae for 700 days at a temperature of 15 to 17 degrees akin to an underwater cellar.
Upon removal, the amphorae acquire a beautiful layer of corals and shells and a plethora of other sea flora and fauna. To commemorate this exquisite viticulture experience, the old amphorae jugs that resemble props straight out of an ancient fairytale, are also sold as unique gift items or souvenirs by the winery. The pinewood boxes in which the bottles are sold in, are made in the city of Varaždin, off the coast of northern Croatia.
After you've had your fill of the winery, don't leave Croatia before exploring the surrounding waters of the Adriatic Sea. One of the cleanest seas in the world, you'll be greeted by a plethora of friendly fish and if you're lucky an odd octopus too. If you dive a little deeper, the seabed will beckon you with shipwrecks, vibrant coral reefs and hidden caves.
And in case you are not up for taking a deep sea dive to the winery, you could still shop for the bottles online and they will be shipped to you at your convenience. Otherwise, the winery organises supervised dives to the wine cellar at request.
Find out more about the Edivo Vina and the details regarding the winery & bar here.
Things to do:
After you are done drinking all the wine you could possibly consume, there is a whole world of activities waiting for you in Croatia. With over a thousand islands, spending time at sea is a must. Sail the high seas and plan a trip to the strange Zlatni Rat Beach. Try zip lining, and go rafting on the Cetina River. Go hiking across the Dinaric Alps, particularlly to the historic peak of Dalmatia.
Explore Croatia's National Parks - Plitvice Lakes National Park (2 hrs from Zagreb), Krka National Park (near Dalmatia) and the Paklenica National Park. Still got time left, walk around the beautiful town of Dubrovnik.
Best Time To Visit: Visit Croatia's underwater winery from May to June, and September to October
Address: Janjina 62, 20246 Poluotok Pelješac, Croatia - Hrvatska
Getting There: The nearest airport is in Dubrovnik. The Edivo Wine Bar is an hour away from Dubrovnik.
Suggested Stay:
Apartment Lemes
