Istria: A Farm-to-Table Olive Oil Experience with Wine

In the rolling countryside, we spend a few slow hours discovering Istria through its orchards, vineyards and olive groves. Beginning with a walk through the family estate and ending beneath the shade of an old tree, this experience brings together olive oil, local wine and a generous table of traditional flavours. 

The Experience

Wandering Through the Estate

We begin at a historic countryside house dating from the late nineteenth century before walking through the surrounding land. The route takes us through an orchard planted with dozens of fruit varieties, followed by vineyards and olive groves overlooking hilltop villages and terraced Istrian countryside. Along the way, we hear about the family's history and approach to sustainable cultivation. 

Learning the Language of Olive Oil

From the groves, we continue into the cellar to discover how extra virgin olive oil has evolved from ancient production methods to the techniques used today. A certified olive oil sommelier then guides us through a professional tasting, teaching us to recognise the aromas, flavours and characteristics of quality extra virgin olive oil. 

A Table Beneath the Trees

The experience ends outdoors beneath the shade of a large tree. Here, we settle around a farm-to-table spread of Istrian flavours: local cured meats, cheeses and fresh ricotta alongside olives, seasonal produce from the garden, homemade bread, fruit preserves, anchovies and olive oil. Two local wines accompany the tasting, followed by an artisan dessert.

What Awaits

• Guided walk through orchard, vineyard and olive grove
• Family stories and Istrian history
  
• Visit to the olive oil cellar
  
• Professional extra virgin olive oil tasting
  
• Certified olive oil sommelier
  
• Istrian farm-to-table charcuterie spread
  
• Two wines alongside the tasting
  
• Homemade and locally sourced produce
  
• Artisan dessert
  

Beyond the Experience

For those wanting something simpler, the estate also offers a shorter experience focused on the landscape and olive oil itself, combining a guided walk through the orchard, vineyard and olive grove with a cellar visit and tasting. The family’s olive-growing tradition extends across five generations, with trees ranging from younger plantings to specimens more than two centuries old. 

An Invitation

This is an experience made for lingering. We wander between fruit trees and olive groves, learn to taste olive oil with a little more attention, then gather beneath the trees as wine is poured and Istrian produce arrives at the table. More than a tasting, it is a gentle introduction to the family, landscape and flavours behind this corner of rural Istria.