Morning
Start the day with breakfast on the Excelsior’s sunny waterside terrace – contemporary fruit, Eggs Benedict and oven-warm croissants. Then got down to discover Dubrovnik. For first-time guests, the must-do expertise needs to be strolling a full circuit of the metropolis partitions – excessive up within the ramparts, you might have magnificent views over the terracotta rooftops of the previous city and out to sea. Though the partitions date from the thirteenth century, they have been later strengthened with strong towers and bastions, and armed with cannons.
Afterwards, have a look within the Fifteenth-century Rector’s Palace, dwelling to the Cultural Historical past Museum, to see how native the Aristocracy as soon as lived amid interval antiques, gilt-framed household portraits and even sedan chairs. Historic paperwork within the metropolis archive present that they have been having fun with Malvasija Dubrovačka as early as 1383 – a wine ‘to be appreciated fairly than devoured’. It was additionally thought of medicinal.
Afternoon
This afternoon there are two choices, relying on how energetic you are feeling. If you would like a couple of hours stress-free, have lunch at Trattoria Carmen in a peaceable aspect alley within the previous city. The menu modifications each day, relying on what the owner-chef finds on the morning market, however look out for his or her octopus specialities – irresistible octopus rissoles, or octopus salad (a Dalmatian summer time traditional) – and ask your waiter for recommendation on wine pairing. Then spend the afternoon again on the Excelsior both swimming and sunbathing by the ocean or indulging in therapeutic massage and wonder remedies on the spa.
Alternatively, you would possibly drive all the way down to Konavle, a fertile inexperienced valley, planted with vineyards and olive groves, and studded with elegant cypresses. That is the homeland of Malvasija Dubrovačka, a grape selection that was saved from extinction by native winemakers within the Nineteen Nineties when there have been lower than half-a-dozen vines remaining. Now, due to cautious nurturing, this native selection has been revived to some 92,000 vines.
Have lunch at Kameni Dvori, an previous stone farmhouse the place the whole lot they serve is do-it-yourself. Select a platter of pršut (cured ham, much like Italian prosciutto), cheeses, smoked meats and olives, or one thing extra substantial, and make sure to style their Malvasija Dubrovačka. Additionally they provide cooking lessons, must you want to attempt your hand within the old style kitchen.
Then head to the Crvik vineyard in close by Komaji. In a contemporary tasting room overlooking vineyards, you possibly can pattern Crvik’s Tezoro (which means ‘treasure’) constituted of Malvasija Dubrovačka, and their Blasius (named after Dubrovnik’s patron saint), an orange wine, constituted of the identical grape, utilizing the centuries-old maceration methodology. And don’t miss Crvik’s most esteemed wine, the purple Vilin Ples (which means ‘fairy dance’), a mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Plavac – the 2017 classic gained a Decanter World Wine Awards Gold Medal in 2021. Though Vilin Ples 2017 is bought out, you would possibly buy a bottle of Vilin Ples 2018 (150kn/€20).
Night
In the event you opted for a relaxed afternoon, the time has come to decorate for the night and hop on the shuttle boat from Dubrovnik’s previous port to Cavtat (journey time 45 min). Crusing down the coast, you’ll go rocky cliffs and sheltered pebble coves. Upon arrival, stroll round Cavtat’s harbour to Resort Supetar (a heritage resort, renovated in 2022) for wine tasting on the Wine Bar (17:00-23:00). Their Uncover South Dalmatian Wines flight introduces white Malvasija Dubrovačka, white Pošip from Korčula, and strong purple Dingač from Pelješac. Observe this with dinner at their restaurant (12:00-15:00 and 18:00-23:00) the place the Konavle Highlights menu (750kn/€100) full with wine pairing (300kn/€40) features a scrumptious risotto with clams, samphire and sea urchin; pasta with wild hare; and stuffed quail. Return to Dubrovnik by boat, or taxi.
In the event you spent the afternoon out in Konavle, you would possibly choose to dine again in Dubrovnik. For one thing fairly totally different, head for Azur within the previous city. The owner-cook Darko Perojević (who’s from Dubrovnik however spent a number of years in China) combines native components with oriental aromas to create his personal CroAsian fusion dishes, reminiscent of spicy salmon donburi and monkfish with black curry sauce. However what to drink with zesty seafood? ‘Azur’s home wine is a younger white Graševina by Galić from Kutjevo in North Croatia’, mentioned Darko, ‘I selected this as a result of it’s very gentle and goes nicely with most of our dishes on a scorching summer time day’.
