Hvar Wine Tours: Plavac Mali, Bogdanuša & Island Wineries

The short version: Hvar is not just a party island. Away from Hvar Town, its villages grow Plavac Mali on steep south-facing slopes above the sea and native whites like Bogdanuša and Pošip in the ancient Stari Grad Plain, a UNESCO site farmed since the Greeks. A small-group tour visits two or three family wineries with tastings and local snacks, often with a Dalmatian dinner. Here is how to plan it.

At a glance

Plavac Mali and Bogdanuša

On Hvar’s south coast, Plavac Mali grows on slopes so steep that harvest is done by hand, and the wines are bold and warm. In the interior, the Stari Grad Plain is divided into the same plots the ancient Greeks laid out more than 2,000 years ago, still planted with vines and olives. The island’s native white is Bogdanuša, light and floral, while Pošip is richer. For the dishes to pair with them, see what to eat in Hvar.

How to plan it

Tours usually start in Hvar Town and drive inland to the wine villages around Jelsa and Vrboska, visiting two or three family cellars. Some include dinner at a konoba; others are a relaxed three-hour tasting. Staying in Split instead? See Split wine tours and Dalmatian wine and Split food tours.

Our pick: the Hvar: Wine Lovers Tour to 3 Wineries with Local Tastings visits up to three family wineries with four to five tastings.

Coming from Split by boat? See where to eat on the Blue Cave and Hvar day trip.

Frequently asked questions

What wine is Hvar known for?

Plavac Mali reds from the steep south coast and native whites like Bogdanuša, plus Pošip.

Where are the wineries on Hvar?

Mostly around Jelsa, Vrboska, Stari Grad and Svirče, and on the south-coast slopes near Ivan Dolac and Sveta Nedjelja.

Can you do a wine tour from Hvar Town?

Yes. Most tours pick up in Hvar Town and drive to the wine villages in the island’s interior.

Book a Hvar wine tour

Compare Hvar wine tours and tastings, or see Dalmatia wine tours.