Korčula and Hvar sit side by side in the Adriatic, a short catamaran hop apart, yet their wines feel like two separate stories. Korčula is white wine country, home to Pošip from the inland villages of Čara and Smokvica and to the rare Grk, grown mainly around Lumbarda. Hvar adds Bogdanjuša, a native white, plus steep Plavac Mali vineyards on its south coast that drop almost to the sea. This guide, part of our Croatia wine guide and a companion to our complete guide to Italian wine regions, covers the grapes, six estates that take visitors, a two-day plan and where to stay.
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Quick answer: Korčula and Hvar wine in 2026
- Best estate for a first visit: Bire in Lumbarda, a family Grk estate a short drive from Korčula town, with tastings of 60 to 90 minutes.
- Best tasting experience: Zlatan Otok in Sveta Nedjelja on Hvar, where a tasting room looks into the seabed and part of the wine is aged under the sea. Reservation required, seasonal opening.
- Best base: Korčula town for Pošip and Grk; Stari Grad on Hvar for the north shore estates and the south coast.
- Best months: May, June, September and early October. Harvest usually falls in September, so small cellars may be busy then.
- Book ahead: every estate visit, a driver for tasting days, inter-island catamaran seats in summer, and dinner at LD Restaurant in Korčula.
Check prices and availability
Korčula town puts Lumbarda about ten minutes away and the Pošip villages within easy reach.
The wines: grapes, places and styles in plain English
Croatian labels usually lead with the grape, often followed by the village. You will also see two quality categories: kvalitetno vino (quality wine) and vrhunsko vino (premium quality wine), the higher tier. On these islands, five names matter.
- Pošip (white, Korčula): the island’s signature grape, centred on the inland villages of Čara and Smokvica. The Smokvica tourist board says the variety was discovered more than 150 years ago on the hill of Pinćaluš, where a monument now stands on a walking and cycling route. Styles range from unoaked to wood-aged, so ask which you are pouring.
- Grk (white, Lumbarda): a rare native variety grown mainly in the sandy soils around Lumbarda, at the eastern tip of Korčula.
- Bogdanjuša (white, Hvar): a native Hvar white, also written Bogdanuša, grown among other places on the Stari Grad Plain.
- Plavac Mali (red, Hvar and Korčula): the main red grape of southern Dalmatia. On Hvar, two names to know are Ivan Dolac and Sveta Nedjelja, steep south coast slopes above the sea. Ivan Dolac is also the name of the top wine of the Svirče agricultural cooperative, bottled since 1999 according to the Hvar tourist board.
- Stari Grad Plain (Hvar): an ancient Greek field system between Stari Grad and Jelsa, listed by UNESCO in 2008. The Hvar tourist board dates the first Greek vines here to 384 BC.
You will also meet Rukatac on Korčula and Prč on Hvar. Coming from Sardinia or Liguria, the coastal white tradition will feel familiar. For the reds across the channel, see our Pelješac wine guide to Plavac Mali, Dingač and Postup.
The wineries: six estates that take visitors
Almost every cellar here is family run and works by appointment. We only include estates where a 2025 or 2026 source confirms that visits are offered. None of the six publishes tasting prices on an official page we could verify, so ask when you book. Krajančić in Čara and Carić in Vrboska also make island wines, but we could not confirm 2026 visit arrangements, so contact them directly.
Bire, Lumbarda (Korčula)
Location: among the vineyards of Lumbarda, about 6 km (10 to 15 minutes by car) from Korčula town. Visit and tasting: tastings of Grk, Plavac Mali and rosé, with food pairing offered. Duration: 60 to 90 minutes according to a 2026 booking platform listing. Languages: not published; ask when booking. Booking: our research turned up contradictory information here: one booking platform says walk-ins are welcome, while a 2026 Korčula guide recommends reserving, especially from June to August. It was not clear to us which applies, so book ahead to be safe.
Popić, Lumbarda (Korčula)
Location: Mala postrana in Lumbarda, a few minutes from Bire. Visit and tasting: the Korčula tourist board lists Popić as a winery and tasting room, with Grk, Pošip, Plavac Mali and rosé. Duration and languages: not published. Booking: contact the winery by phone or email before you go. From base: 10 to 15 minutes from Korčula town.
Toreta, Smokvica (Korčula)
Location: in Smokvica, in the centre of the island, around 35 to 40 minutes by car from Korčula town. Visit and tasting: a long-established family estate making Pošip, Rukatac and Plavac Mali, plus a collection of antique winemaking equipment. Duration and languages: not published. Booking: listings disagree here too. An older guide gives daily opening hours, while current listings describe Toreta as reservation only. Treat it as appointment only and call or email ahead.
Zlatan Otok, Sveta Nedjelja (Hvar)
Location: on Hvar’s south coast, about 30 minutes by car from Stari Grad, with a marina for private boats. Visit and tasting: the Bilo Idro tasting room has a window onto the seabed, and the estate also runs a restaurant above the marina. Duration: about 1 to 1.5 hours. Season: a 2025 report gives the cellar and restaurant season as 15 May to 15 October; confirm 2026 dates. Booking: reservation required, and that report says bookings made within 60 days of the visit are paid in full at booking. The Hvar tourist board says part of the wine ages under the sea and part in a cellar 70 m underground, while the same 2025 report describes the cellar both as deep underground and as just below sea level. It was not clear to us which is accurate, so ask during your visit.
Tomić (Bastijana), Jelsa (Hvar)
Location: in Jelsa on the north shore, about 15 minutes from Stari Grad. Visit and tasting: a tasting room modelled on the cellars of Diocletian’s Palace in Split, according to the Hvar tourist board, with white blend, Pošip, Plavac Mali and fortified wine. Food pairing is offered. Duration: 60 to 90 minutes. Languages: Croatian and English. Booking: by reservation only.
Duboković, Jelsa (Hvar)
Location: also in Jelsa, so easy to pair with Tomić on the same morning. Visit and tasting: a small family producer; the Hvar tourist board gives annual production of 15,000 to 20,000 litres. Duration: about 60 to 90 minutes. Languages: English and Croatian. Booking: by appointment only, and confirm directly before building your day around it.
Comparison table
| Estate | Place | Focus | Visit | From base |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bire | Lumbarda, Korčula | Grk, Plavac Mali | 60 to 90 min, food pairing | 10 to 15 min from Korčula town |
| Popić | Lumbarda, Korčula | Grk, Pošip | Small tasting room, call ahead | 10 to 15 min from Korčula town |
| Toreta | Smokvica, Korčula | Pošip, Rukatac | Reservation, historic equipment | 35 to 40 min from Korčula town |
| Zlatan Otok | Sveta Nedjelja, Hvar | South coast Plavac Mali | 1 to 1.5 h, seabed tasting room, seasonal | About 30 min from Stari Grad |
| Tomić (Bastijana) | Jelsa, Hvar | Pošip, Plavac Mali | 60 to 90 min, reservation only | About 15 min from Stari Grad |
| Duboković | Jelsa, Hvar | Small family production | 60 to 90 min, appointment only | About 15 min from Stari Grad |
Getting between Korčula and Hvar
In season, passenger catamarans link Korčula town and Hvar town, usually as part of the Split to Dubrovnik lines. Timetables change every year, so check the current schedules and book seats ahead in July and August. By car, Korčula is reached across the Pelješac bridge and the short ferry from Orebić, while Hvar has car ferries from Split to Stari Grad (about two hours) and from Drvenik to Sućuraj. Driving between the islands takes most of a day, so take the catamaran.
Coming from Italy, Split is the usual gateway. Jadrolinija’s Ancona to Split car ferry is suspended until 5 January 2027, so check before planning an autumn or winter crossing; our guide to Italy to Croatia by boat covers the summer lines from Puglia, Venice and Trieste. By yacht, see Hvar and the Pakleni Islands by boat; Zlatan Otok has its own marina.
A two-day itinerary
Use a driver on tasting days. Croatia’s general drink-drive limit is 0.5 g/kg, and the limit is zero for drivers under 24 and for professional drivers. Check the current rule before you travel, and assume that two tastings put you over it. Book a driver or taxi through your hotel.
Day 1: Korčula. Morning tasting at Bire in Lumbarda, 10 to 15 minutes from Korčula town, then Popić a few minutes away. Lunch and a swim in Lumbarda. Mid afternoon, drive 35 to 40 minutes west to Toreta in Smokvica for Pošip, then return to Korčula town for an evening walk on the old town walls and dinner.
Day 2: Hvar. Take a morning catamaran to Hvar town and have your driver meet you at the quay. Drive about 35 minutes to Jelsa for Tomić, with Duboković nearby if time allows. Continue to Sveta Nedjelja (allow 20 to 30 minutes through the Pitve tunnel) for a late afternoon tasting and early dinner at Zlatan Otok. Stay the night in Stari Grad or Hvar town rather than racing back.
Best months, events and practical tips
May and June bring warm days and winemakers with time to talk. September is harvest month and atmospheric, but small cellars may have less time for visitors. Early October is quieter and still mild. July and August are hot and crowded.
Events: Smokvica holds Dani Pošipa (Pošip Days) each summer at the end of July, when local winemakers open their cellars for evening tastings. We could not confirm the 2026 dates, so check with the Smokvica tourist board. On Hvar, the Pitve Wine Collection, a small wine museum in a former school building from 1903, has held thematic tastings since 2023 and opens on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in season (19:00 to 23:00, according to the Hvar tourist board).
- Currency: Croatia uses the euro, and cards are widely accepted, but carry some cash for small cellars.
- Booking: most estates reply by phone, email or social media rather than an online calendar; contact them a few days ahead, more in summer.
- Shipping wine: ask each estate whether it ships to your country before buying by the case.
Charlotte’s tip: plan the day around the non-wine half of the couple
Lumbarda works because its sandy beaches sit minutes from the cellars, so one of you can swim while the other tastes Grk. On Hvar, Zlatan Otok pairs a tasting with a seafront restaurant, and an evening at the Pitve Wine Collection is as much about village life and history as about wine.
Where to stay: four hotels on Korčula and Hvar
For more Hvar options, see our guide on where to stay in Hvar; for the island itself, our Hvar travel guide and our Korčula and Pelješac guide.
Lešić Dimitri Palace, Korčula
Residences in an 18th-century bishop’s palace and medieval houses in the pedestrianised old town, a short walk from the harbour and the catamaran quay. LD Restaurant is on site and holds one Michelin star in the 2026 Michelin Guide Croatia; book weeks ahead. Published sources disagree on the number of residences and on winter opening, so check with the hotel. Lumbarda is 10 to 15 minutes by car.
Best for: couples who want the old town, a serious dinner and Grk on the doorstep.
Check rates at Lešić Dimitri Palace
Hotel Korsal, Korčula
A small hotel on the waterfront, about five minutes on foot from the old town, with around 18 rooms and an à la carte restaurant with a sea view terrace. Seasonal opening is not clearly published, so ask the hotel. Lumbarda is 10 to 15 minutes by car.
Best for: a relaxed, sea-facing base for Korčula tasting days.
Maslina Resort, Stari Grad (Hvar)
In Maslinica bay, within walking distance of Stari Grad and its ferry port, and about 20 minutes by car from Hvar town. Two heated pools, a spa with hammam and sauna, and a pebble beach; open from early May to mid October. Jelsa is about 15 minutes away and Sveta Nedjelja about 30. Read our full Maslina Resort review.
Best for: wine lovers who want a quiet base close to the Stari Grad Plain.
Palace Elisabeth, Hvar Heritage Hotel, Hvar
On the edge of the main square overlooking Hvar town harbour, a five-star heritage hotel revamped in 2019, with an indoor pool and spa. It is seasonal, so check opening dates for spring and autumn stays. Jelsa is about 35 minutes by car.
Best for: couples who want Hvar town’s restaurants and the catamaran quay at the door.
Check rates at Palace Elisabeth
Check prices and availability
Starting with Grk and Pošip? Korčula town is the easiest base, with Lumbarda close by and catamarans to Hvar from the harbour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I visit Korčula and Hvar wineries without an appointment?
Rarely. Most estates in this guide work by reservation, and even where walk-ins are listed, small family cellars may be in the vineyard.
What is the difference between Pošip and Grk?
Both are native white grapes of Korčula. Pošip is grown mainly around Čara and Smokvica in the centre of the island, while Grk is concentrated in the sandy soils of Lumbarda in the east.
Can I do both islands in one day?
Not comfortably. Allow two days, with a night on each island.
Can I combine this with Pelješac or Italy?
Yes. Pelješac is a short ferry from Korčula and adds Plavac Mali from Dingač and Postup. From Italy, Jadrolinija normally runs a seasonal Bari to Dubrovnik ferry and the Ancona to Split line, but it has cancelled all international sailings until 5 January 2027, so check the 2027 timetable before you book.
Planning more wine days in Croatia and Italy?
