We just returned from a fabulous trip to Jelsa on Hvar island, where we filmed the harvest in the fields of Dubokobic and met with Ivo Dubokovic and Andro Tomic, two of the leading vinters on Hvar. The harvest is a family affair – friends and family turn up sooner or later to help pick and enjoy a hearty meal at the end of the day, with plenty of wine and laughter. Ivo is doing some great whites, roses &, of course, Plavac Mali. It looks like he can hardly keep up with demand. With Ivo wine making is a labor of love. He takes risks and experiments to get the absolute best wines he can. Producing just 20,000 bottles a year, you must come visit to find these very special wines.
Andro Tomic, one of the grandfather’s of the industry, was a treat to meet and speak to. His big reds are eclipsed only by his big personality – hospitable, enthusiastic and full of history and anecdotes. His cellar and winery are a testament to the new industry and the old traditions. It was fun contrasting the new technology and equipment at Tomic with the garage wine pressing at Dubokovic.
