Korcula was the first island H and I visited in Croatia and by far my favorite place we stayed in Croatia. Along with gorgeous beaches and stunning views Korcula is also known for its white wine, Grk. Grk is produced from a white grape called, Grk, and is mainly found on the island of Korcula. As a wine lover that has tasted wine in several different countries I knew my time in Korcula would need to include sampling some (okay a lot) of the local wine.
We had set aside a day to head off for wine tasting at the local vineyards on Korcula, many of which can be found about 7 km away in a small town called Lumbarda. We rented bikes, packed our bags, and headed off nice and early since I couldn’t wait any longer to get the day started!
It is about a 40 minute bike ride to get to Lumbarda but the views along the way make the time fly by.
Stunning right?
Since my eagerness had us arriving a few hours before many of the tasting rooms at the wineries opened we decided to check out one of the local beaches in Lumbarda while we waited. To get to the beach from town we rode our bikes about 2 km into the countryside, and with fields of vineyards along the way I felt like I was in a movie riding my bike through the beautiful fields in Tuscany!
When we arrived at the beach we were hot and sweaty and ready to take a dip in the beautiful blue water. I recommend arriving early, the beaches fill up fast but since we were quite early (we arrived before 10 am) we were able to enjoy a mostly empty beach before it filled up when we left around noon.
And then it was finally time to pack up and head off for some wine tasting! As I was getting on my bike to take off H delivered some terrible news. His bike tire had gone flat! Okay so not that terrible but since his bike tire was flat we needed to get back into town to find a pump meaning my wine tasting plan was off the schedule for the afternoon. I am not going to lie, as we walked our bikes back into town I thought about ducking into a few wineries on my own along the way but I didn’t want to ditch H (okay I couldn’t remember the way back home) so back to Korcula we went.
Fast forward to that evening and H and I had just finished another delicious meal and were wandering the small streets in Korcula before heading in for the night. I was still quite bummed about not being able to go wine tasting but was more than happy wandering the charming streets of Korcula when H and I heard some music coming from the end of a dark small street.
Curiosity got the best of us after we saw a couple walk up this street carrying wine glasses, of course we had to see where they had gotten these wine glasses! Pure joy is the best way to describe how I felt when we rounded the corner at the end of the long street and stumbled upon a local wine festival!
In a small square we found almost 20 wineries offering samples of their best wines. A live band serenaded us while we sipped our wine. Locals greeted their neighbors with loud conversations and hugs, girls dressed in elaborate outfits handing out the most delicious bread, and there was enough wine to keep my happy for a lifetime. You never would have guessed this was a Sunday!
Stumbling on this festival and sipping local wine with those who live on the island was an experience I will never forget. You never know what traveling will bring your way but no matter what things always seem to work out for the best.
Question of the Day?
Have you ever experience local festivals while traveling?
I'm Kaelene, a girl from Oregon figuring out life in Iceland. I have a passion for travel and a weakness for a good glass of wine. I believe in faking it tell you make it and am far from figuring out the expat life. 
