Where To Find the Adriatic’s Best Food and Wine Festivals?

Wine on the Adriatic is an invitation to slow down, savour, and connect. Across Istria and Dalmatia, town squares transform into open-air wine cellars, where local winemakers share their passion, their craft, and their best vintages.

Imagine wandering through lantern-lit streets, glass in hand, discovering native varieties like malvasia, plavac mali, pošip, and teran. Events such as the fabulous Istria Wine & Walk (typically twice a year, each time in a different Istrian location) or Vinski Grad in Makarska are perfect examples, blending good wine, local bites, and live music under the summer sky.

Few things define the Adriatic as deeply as its olive oil and cheese. Throughout the region, festivals and tasting fairs celebrate these essential flavours of the Mediterranean. From buttery young oils to rich, full-bodied varieties, each drop carries a story of sun, soil, and tradition.

At events like the ISTRAVIRGIN Olive Oil Days in Vodnjan, you can meet local producers and learn about techniques passed down through generations. Cheese lovers, meanwhile, shouldn’t miss the Sensa Cheese Festival in Malinska on Krk or the well-known Pag Cheese Festival, where small family farms showcase their finest creations, including everything from creamy sheep’s milk cheeses to aged, aromatic specialties.

As the sun sets, coastal villages turn into lively open-air kitchens. Fishermen’s feasts are a summer tradition where locals and visitors gather by the sea to enjoy freshly grilled fish, seafood stews, and live music under the stars.

In Novigrad, the Fishermen’s Feast turns the waterfront into a lively celebration of local flavours, while the Fešta Vela Gospa in Jelsa on Hvar blends tradition, music, and regional delicacies in a truly unforgettable experience.

Festivals are just the beginning. For those who want a deeper connection with the region, the Adriatic invites you to explore beyond the squares and stages. Visit boutique wineries hidden among rolling hills, walk through olive groves where families have cared for the same trees for generations, or spend an afternoon tasting cheeses and homemade jams on a small family farm. These intimate encounters turn every bite and sip into a story you’ll remember long after your holiday ends.

With properties perfectly placed along the coast, Aminess Hotels & Resorts make it easy to experience these culinary celebrations. Whether you’re staying in Novigrad, Njivice, Makarska, Korčula, Hvar, Brač, or Krk, the region’s most exciting festivals and tasting events are just around the corner. Spend your mornings by the sea and your evenings discovering the rich flavours, traditions, and stories of the Adriatic.