How YOU can get a taste of the Adriatic at home with the help of fabulous films, delicious wine and a really good book!
Join Lily James and the crew in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again in beautiful Vis
With its myriad, sun-drenched islands sitting in impossibly blue sea, Croatia certainly looks like the ideal holiday destination. Combine that with its beaches, ancient ruins, world-class wines, renowned music festivals and fabulous value for money, and the urge to book a break there suddenly becomes irresistible.
Here’s how you can enjoy a taste of Croatia at home until you get there for real.
Just like the moviesCroatia’s iconic cityscapes are the result of thousands of years of civilisation, with places such as Dubrovnik evolving to become modern metropolises set in breathtaking surroundings. Elsewhere, medieval forts and Roman amphitheatres dot the countryside.
So it’s no surprise that the country has become much sought after by Hollywood film producers, providing memorable settings for famous movies and TV dramas.
The producers of Star Wars: The Last Jedi used Dubrovnik as a backdrop to create the fictional planet, Canto Bight. In the film, it was where the ultra-rich gathered to gamble under the bright lights of a casino city, but keen-eyed viewers will spot the historic centre, identified by the imposing fortress walls that wind along the sea coast.
Step into Diocletian's Palace alongside the Mother of Dragons in Game of Thrones
Dubrovnik also played a crucial role in HBO’s Game of Thrones, where it was transformed into King’s Landing: home of the cruel House of Lannister. This wasn’t the only city to play a starring role, though. Deep inside Diocletian’s Palace in Split, the fictional city of Meereen was brought to life, the place that Daenerys Targaryen, Mother of Dragons, was freed from slavery.
And it’s not just the cities that have their place in the hall of fame. Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is supposedly set on the Greek island of Skopelos, but its idyllic scenes of lush mountains, white cliffs and calm, clear seas were in fact filmed on the Croatian island of Vis, a two-hour boat ride from Split.
Once cut off from visitors while it was used as a military base between the 1950s and the late 1980s, this small island is now home to just a few residents and, as depicted in the Mamma Mia! sequel, it offers peace and quiet in truly gorgeous surroundings.
Pages of the Adriatic
As you explore Croatia’s finest vintages, lose yourself in these literary delights...
Zagreb Noir
Edited by Ivan Sršen
For a comprehensive overview of Croatian history and culture, look no further than Ivan Sršen’s dark yet entertaining anthology. Featuring the stories of several Croatian authors, Zagreb Noir presents the various points of view of local writers from across the capital, resulting in an unrefined but refreshing insight into life in Croatia.
Under a Croatian Sun
Anthony Stancomb
Detailing his and his wife’s attempts to ingratiate themselves into village life on the remote island of Vis, Anthony Stancomb – a Brit from Fulham, west London – shares his lyrical and amusing account of their first year there. He and Ivana strive to be accepted in the close-knit community, slowly becoming islanders in their own right.
Running Away to Home
Jennifer Wilson
Following the theme of fleeing to Croatia, Jennifer Wilson’s memoir reveals how she uprooted her husband and children to return to her ancestral home in a remote Croatian mountain village, where they learned about their heritage and found a whole new appreciation for family.Tune in, zone out
Croatia has become the epicentre for some of the world’s biggest festivals, including Hideout and Sonus, which draw international acts and their enthusiastic fans every year for beach-side revelling in the sunshine.
Re-creating some beachy festival vibes at home is easily done: crank up the bass, adorn your garden with fairy lights, and create some signature Croatian cocktails to dive into. For a crowd-pleaser, serve a Wanderlust: simply shake 15ml orange juice, 15ml lime juice, 5ml maraschino cherry liqueur, and 45ml rye whiskey together, then strain over ice. Top with an umbrella and get the party started!
Bring the Croatian festival vibes home with a garden party filled with great tunes and cocktails
For a more laid-back venture into Croatia’s music culture, wind down to the beautiful sounds of Oliver Dragojević. A cultural icon, Dragojević wowed audiences the world over with his unique blend of Dalmatian ‘klapa’ melodies – which are like a cappella songs, performed by a group singing different harmonies – mixed with jazz motifs. You can explore his musical career on YouTube.
While you’re at it, check out the 2Cellos. Croatian cellists Luka Šulić and Stjepan Hauser rose to fame with their unique cover of Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal in 2011, which they made using only cellos! It was such an impressive rendition that it was picked up by Ellen DeGeneres, and by Elton John, who requested that the talented duo play with him on his 2011 summer tour.
AN ADVENTURE IN CROATIAN WINE
There’s nothing quite like sitting with a glass of local wine when you’re on holiday – and Croatia has more than 130 varieties to choose from. Here are some worth looking out for.
Variety is the spice of life Across Croatia’s more than 1,000 islands, you’ll find wines for every palate, mood and meal, from beautiful dry whites such as Grk – made from a grape grown nowhere else in the world – to ruby red Dobričić, an intense wine that has been cultivated on the island of Šolta for more than 800 years.
If you’re looking to enjoy a taste of the Adriatic splendour at home, these little-known Croat wines are a good place to start. But there’s one particular wine that should be at the very top of your list – and it won’t be a stranger to you.
A spot of Zinfandel Evocative of spices and rich berries, Zinfandel is a winner in most wine lovers’ books. This classic red is most famously associated with California, but it’s also found roots in Dalmatia, thanks to renowned Croatian/American Napa Valley winemaker Miljenko ‘Mike’ Grgich.
His Californian winery, Grgich Hills Estate, sprawls over 366 acres of vineyards, and produces 70,000 cases of wine each year. In 2001, Mike proved that the Croatian grape, Crljenak Kaštelanski, from the Kaštela area, was a genetic match to the more famous Californian Zinfandel grape. Since then, Crljenak Kaštelanski has become iconic across the Adriatic archipelago.
The Zinfandel connection doesn’t stop there. As Dalmatia’s most famous red, Plavac Mali counts the original Zinfandel in its lineage. Grown on the sloping vineyards on the Pelješac Peninsula and the impossibly steep fields of the southern tip of Hvar, Plavac Mali is one of the hardest grapes to harvest. The small yields that come from its fruits is reflected in the higher price you’ll pay for wine in the shops.
To bring your own Croatian wine-tasting experience to life at home this summer, visit croatianfinewines.com
Jules Verne offers a seven-night Adriatic coast cruise aboard the elegant and exclusive Motor Vessel Admiral. Discover historic towns that were once centres of the Greco-Roman, Byzantine and Renaissance worlds, visit Korčula and Hvar, and enjoy a wine-tasting evening at the Grgić Vina winery. Visit vjv.com
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