Kastela: Wine & Olive Tasting Tour w/Delicacies & Live Music

Slow down for the good stuff. This 3.5-hour visit to Family Farm Strizic combines an organic vineyard, olive and almond orchards, a working wine cellar, local food, and live Dalmatian music in one friendly outing near Kastela. I especially like the hands-on chance to fill, cork, and label your own bottle of wine and the small group size, limited to six people. The main consideration is the price, $173 per person, which makes this a special occasion rather than a casual stop for a quick tasting.

I also like that the experience goes beyond wine. You learn how olives become extra virgin oil, walk among wild herbs and fruit trees, taste homemade schnapps, and hear about the historic Bijaći area, linked to Croatian history from the seventh century. Kathrin, the host, is repeatedly praised for her warmth, energy, and personal care. If you prefer a quiet farm setting to a crowded tasting room, this is a strong choice.

Key Points at a Glance

• A working family farm near Split and Trogir: Visit vineyards, olive trees, almond trees, and the wine cellar at Put Bijaća 38 in Kaštel Novi.
• A hands-on wine activity: Fill, cork, and label a bottle directly from the fermentation tanks.
• A serious Dalmatian food spread: Taste Pag cheese, prosciutto, peka bread, salted fish, olives, peppers, figs, almonds, and more.
• Live local character: Kathrin sings and plays traditional Dalmatian songs on the accordion while dressed in traditional folklore clothing.
• A very small group: With no more than six participants, the setting feels personal and conversational.
• Good pickup choices: Transport is available from Trogir and Split Airport, or you can drive to the estate yourself.

A Farm Visit With More Than a Wine Glass

Many wine tours stop at the cellar door. This one begins outdoors, where the farm’s crops explain the food and drink that follow. You walk through the olive and almond orchard and continue into the vineyards, seeing the setting where the farm’s products begin.

The tour is designed around the full agricultural year, from early spring through late fall. Depending on the season, you might see almond trees blooming, fruit ripening, or wild herbs growing along the paths. Thyme, rosemary, oregano, dill, bay leaves, St. John’s Wort, wild asparagus, and other flowers are part of the walk.

I like this approach because it gives the tasting a clear purpose. Olive oil is not just a dip in a small dish. Wine is not just a white or red pour. You learn how weather, pruning, harvesting, fermentation, and cellar work shape what reaches the table.

The setting also gives you views across Kastela Bay toward Split. It is a peaceful change from the busy coastal roads and packed old-town streets. Wear shoes suitable for walking on farm paths, and dress for the weather. The tour is outdoors for part of the time, so comfort matters more than style here.

The Bijaći Setting and Its Croatian Past

The estate sits in the Bijaći area, which has importance in Croatian history dating to the seventh century. The host includes this background during the agricultural walk, giving the farm visit a wider sense of place.

This is not a formal archaeology tour, and the focus remains on farming, wine, and food. Still, the historical explanation helps you understand that the estate is part of an old cultural area rather than an isolated modern tasting venue.

That combination suits you if you enjoy learning how local food fits into regional history. It also keeps the experience grounded. You are not simply sampling imported wine in a polished room. You are walking through a working family property in an area with centuries of Croatian connections.

From Olive Blossoms to Extra Virgin Oil

The olive orchard is one of the most useful parts of the visit for anyone who has wondered what makes olive oil taste different. You hear about the care of the trees and the production of extra virgin olive oil, including the natural cycle from flowering to the finished bottle.

You also taste the farm’s extra virgin oil and versions infused with wild herbs. This lets you compare the plain oil with flavored varieties while the ingredients are still familiar from the orchard walk.

The farm’s black olives are prepared in the traditional way and served with the food. That small detail matters. You get to taste olives as part of a local table, not just as a garnish beside a drink.

The almond orchard adds another layer. Depending on the season, you may see blossoms or ripening fruit. Later, hand-picked dried figs and dried, sugar-coated almonds appear with the tasting. The orchard and the table connect in a way that makes the food feel less like a preset menu.

Wine Cellar, Schnapps, and Your Own Bottle

Inside the wine cellar, the host explains how grapes become wine and how fermentation is handled. You also taste a selection of homemade schnapps and liquors while learning how schnapps is distilled.

The most memorable hands-on feature is the bottle activity. You fill a bottle from the fermentation tanks, cork it, and add the label yourself. It is a simple task, but it turns the tasting into something you take part in rather than watch from the side.

The farm’s white and red wines are paired with the meal later. One advantage of this format is that you taste the wines with food instead of judging them alone. Prosciutto, cheese, bread, fish, olives, and vegetables each bring out different flavors.

The wine is described as award-winning, but this is not a technical wine education course. You should expect a friendly explanation of farm production, not a formal lesson in professional tasting vocabulary. That is a benefit for most people. You can ask practical questions and enjoy the wine without feeling tested.

The Dalmatian Table Under the Pergola

The meal takes place outdoors under a pergola beside the olive and almond orchards. The food is served as a spread of Dalmatian delicacies, with white and red wine poured alongside it.

Expect locally dried prosciutto and aged cheese from the island of Pag. Pag is well known for its distinctive sheep’s cheese, and it gives the tasting a clear regional flavor. You also get peka bread baked under a wood fire, a hearty local style of bread with a rustic texture.

The seafood element is locally sea-salted fish fillets. They are served with black olives, cheese-filled small bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes. The selection is broad enough to make this feel like a proper light meal, not a few decorative bites.

The sweet finish includes organic dried figs and hand-picked almonds coated in sugar. You also taste the farm’s extra virgin olive oil and wild herb infused oils.

I value the balance of the menu. It covers cured meat, cheese, bread, seafood, vegetables, fruit, nuts, and wine, so you get a useful introduction to the flavors of Dalmatia in one sitting. If you have dietary restrictions, ask before booking because the supplied details do not describe substitutions.

Accordion Music and Traditional Dress

During the meal, Kathrin plays and sings traditional Dalmatian songs on the accordion while wearing traditional Dalmatian folklore dress. This gives the afternoon a personal touch that a standard tasting room usually lacks.

The music is part of the host’s presentation, not a separate concert. That means the mood is informal and tied to the food and place. You may find it charming if you want a cultural experience with your meal. If you prefer a silent, highly structured tasting, this could feel more theatrical than you want.

Kathrin’s personality is a major part of the experience. She is described as informative, entertaining, passionate, and generous with her time. The small group helps here. With a maximum of six people, there is room for questions and conversation instead of a guide speaking to a crowd.

Several guests have specifically praised the way she treats people like family and the care she gives to presentation. That praise fits the design of the afternoon: the estate, food, wine, music, and personal storytelling are all part of one hosted experience.

How the Timing Works

The total duration is 210 minutes, or three hours and 30 minutes. The time is divided among the farm walk, the cellar visit, tastings, the bottle activity, and the outdoor meal.

You should not expect a rushed schedule. The host’s style appears to favor explanation and conversation, and the outdoor setting encourages you to take your time. That is one reason the tour works best when you have a free half-day rather than a tightly packed sightseeing plan.

From Trogir, the drive to the estate takes about 10 minutes. Pickup is at Bistro Baketina on Trogir City Beach, at the T4 parking lot. It is about a five-minute walk along the seaside from the Trogir Bus Terminal.

Pickup is also available at the Split Airport bus station on the main road. The instructions are specific because the meeting point is outside the airport building, at the bus station on the main road in the direction of Split. You can also meet directly at the estate at Put Bijaća 38 in Kaštel Novi if you have your own car.

The directions to the estate involve several turns near the airport and Put Vlaka, so follow the supplied instructions carefully. If you are driving, allow enough time to find the property rather than arriving at the last minute.

Is $173 a Fair Price?

At $173 per person, this is not the cheapest wine tasting around Split. The value depends on what you want from the day.

You are paying for a small group, transport from listed pickup points, a farm and orchard tour, a cellar visit, schnapps and liquor tasting, hands-on bottle filling, several wines, a substantial food spread, live music, and a host who gives the experience personal attention. For a simple glass of wine, the price is high. For a three-and-a-half-hour cultural food experience with transportation and a meal, it is easier to justify.

I would compare it with the cost of arranging several separate activities. You could spend money on a winery visit, a meal, a local food tasting, and transport, but you would lose the connection between the crops, cellar, kitchen, and table.

The strongest value is for couples, small groups of friends, and food-focused visitors who want one memorable half-day near Split or Trogir. It is less suitable if you only want to sample wine quickly or if your budget is tight.

Organic products from the farm can be purchased on site. That gives you a chance to take home olive oil, wine, or other goods, but those purchases cost extra.

Who Should Book This Experience?

You should consider this tour if you enjoy local food, small farms, wine, traditional music, and direct contact with the people who produce what you eat. It is also a good choice if you want an outing that combines scenery, history, and a meal without requiring a full-day trip from the coast.

The experience is for adults only. Children under 18 are not permitted, and it is not suitable for people over 95. Comfortable walking shoes are required, and weather-appropriate clothing is a sensible choice.

You may not enjoy it as much if you want a formal winery with extensive technical tasting notes, a large selection of wines, or a strictly scheduled tour. The charm here comes from the host, the farm setting, the stories, and the relaxed meal.

The tour is offered in English, German, French, and Croatian. That makes it practical for a mixed-language group, though availability of a particular language should be confirmed when selecting a date.

Should You Book the Kastela Wine and Olive Tour?

I would book this if you want more than a tasting. The strongest parts are the small group, Kathrin’s warm hosting, the chance to bottle your own wine, and the generous Dalmatian food served beside the orchards.

The price deserves thought, but the experience includes far more than a few pours. It is a full afternoon of farm work, regional products, local history, music, and conversation. Book it when you have time to slow down, arrive hungry, and enjoy the setting rather than rush to the next sight.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and reserve now with payment later. Those terms make it easier to fit the outing into a changing Croatia itinerary.

FAQ

Where does the wine and olive tasting tour take place?

The experience takes place at Family Farm Strizic, Put Bijaća 38, 21217 Kaštel Novi, Croatia.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts 210 minutes, or three hours and 30 minutes.

Is pickup available from Trogir?

Yes. Pickup is at Bistro Baketina on Trogir City Beach, at the T4 parking lot. The location is about a five-minute walk along the seaside from Trogir Bus Terminal.

Is pickup available from Split Airport?

Yes. Pickup is at the bus station on the main road in the direction of Split, outside Split Airport.

Can I meet the group directly at the estate?

Yes. You can drive to the estate at Put Bijaća 38 in Kaštel Novi and meet the host there.

What food and drinks are included?

The tasting includes white and red wine, homemade schnapps and liquors, prosciutto, aged Pag cheese, peka bread, salted fish fillets, black olives, cheese-filled peppers, cherry tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, wild herb infused olive oil, dried figs, sugar-coated almonds, and water.

Can I make my own bottle of wine?

Yes. You can fill, cork, and label a bottle of wine directly from the fermentation tanks.

Is the experience suitable for children?

No. The tour is not suitable for children under 18.