Wine, olives and truffles in coastal Istria – Istria

In September we went on an incentive trip to Istria with our clients. The picturesque peninsula stretching across 3 different countries - Italy, Slovenia and Croatia hides countless historical, natural and above all gastronomic treasures. 

Immediately after arriving in Venice, we headed to Slovenia, stopping at a family-owned boutique winery along the way to make our trip more enjoyable. After tasting some great wines and enjoying an afternoon of tapas, we made our way to the seaside town of Izola, our retreat for the next few days. From there we set off on excursions to explore all that Istria has to offer. 

We went on a trip to Postojna and explored the secrets of the rocky Predjama Castle and the intricate caves hiding underneath. The highlight of the day was a tour of the huge Postojna Caves, which are truly a wonder of the underground world.

Of course, when travelling to Istria, you can't miss the olive farms that are inseparable from the area. We also went to one with our clients, and we did it in style! In colourful retrominivans, which were used to transport the olives during the harvest, we drove around the whole area and the olive groves. At the farm we heard about the production of extra virgin oils and didn't miss the tasting.

Since Istria is spread between 3 countries, we had to go to the Croatian side to experience Istria from all angles. We went to Grožnjan, a Croatian village nicknamed "the town of artists" full of colorful stone streets. There is beauty in diversity, so we had a rather adventurous crossing to Motovun Forest on bicycles along a former railway line full of short tunnels, bridges and beautiful views. At the end of the route, truffle hunters were waiting for us with their faithful helpers - trained dogs. The clients then had the opportunity to find out what such a truffle hunt actually entails. A well-deserved relaxation came in the afternoon, when we enjoyed a delicious truffle menu in a local restaurant in Motovun and finished the day with a tasting in a stylish Croatian winery.

Time was really used to the absolute maximum. On the last day we didn't slack off either and on the way to the airport in Venice we visited the last winery in the Italian village of Moraro. The friendly owners greeted us at the entrance and led us to a beautifully set table in the garden, where we were pampered by the pleasant atmosphere of a family winery. The tasting of local Italian specialties and first class wines left us all with a real feeling of "dolce vita".