Kastela: Wine & Olive Tasting Tour w/Delicacies & Live Music

A walk through a family farm near Kaštel Novi turns into a hands-on lesson in wine and olive oil, with a glass of wine waiting at the end. You’ll see how grapes and olives move from field to cellar, then fill, cork, and label your own bottle straight from a fermentation tank.

I like two things in particular: the small group, capped at six, gives Kathrin room to explain the work in detail, and the food tasting pairs local ingredients with the farm’s own wine and olive oil. The main consideration is that this is a long, food-and-drink-centered outing, so it may not suit anyone under 18 or anyone looking for a brisk sightseeing stop.

• Walk an organic family farm: Follow Kathrin through vineyards, olive trees, almond trees, and seasonal wild herbs.
• Bottle wine from the tank: Fill, cork, and label a bottle of the farm’s award-winning wine to take home.
• Taste Dalmatian specialties: Try prosciutto, Pag cheese, wood-fired peka bread, local fish, olives, and more.
• Learn about Bijaći: Hear about this historic area, described as a cradle of Croatian history dating to the 7th century.
• Finish with music: Pair wine and farm-made olive oil with a spread served outdoors, while Kathrin plays and sings traditional Dalmatian songs in local dress.

A family farm, not a tasting-room stop

This tour takes place at Family Farm Strizic in Kaštel Novi, between Trogir and Split. It is more than a sampling of wine and cheese: Kathrin walks you through the farm’s orchards and vineyards, explains the work behind its products, and brings you into the wine cellar. The visit ends outdoors with food, wine, olive oil, and live accordion music.

That mix makes the outing useful if you want a closer look at how local food is made, not just a pleasant place to sip a glass. You can ask questions as you go, and the group size is limited to six. With fewer people, the farm’s story and practical details have room to breathe.

Kathrin is central to the experience. In her own farm, she explains the growing and production process and hosts the tasting. She also plays and sings traditional Dalmatian songs. The personal welcome is a recurring strength of the tour, and you should expect a host-led visit rather than a formal, scripted winery presentation.

Through the orchards and vineyards

The tour begins outdoors, walking among olive and almond trees and through the vineyards of the family’s 100 percent organic farm. Kathrin explains how the farm tends its crops from early spring through late fall, offering a view of the year’s work rather than focusing only on the final bottle or jar.

The setting changes with the season. Depending on when you visit, you may see trees in bloom or fruit ripening, and the walk can bring you close to thyme, rosemary, oregano, dill, bay leaves, St. John’s Wort, wild asparagus, and other wild plants and flowers. You’ll also identify and pick wild herbs along the way. The exact sights and scents are seasonal, so don’t expect the same orchard at every time of year.

This is a useful part of the tour for anyone curious about what organic farm work involves. The guide’s explanations connect the trees and vines to the finished products, from the growing cycle to the cellar. You’ll learn about the practices used for olives, almonds, and grapes, and how the farm makes wine and extra virgin olive oil.

The walk is also the most active part of the visit. Comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended. The tour is not suitable for children under 18 or people over 95, and the supplied information does not specify the walking distance or terrain, so contact the farm if those details matter to you.

Bijaći’s place in Croatian history

The farm visit includes an introduction to Bijaći, a historic area Kathrin describes as a cradle of Croatian history, dating to the 7th century. It gives the agricultural setting a wider context: this is not just a modern farm visit, but a chance to hear why this particular area matters.

The historical talk is one part of a broader experience, not a dedicated archaeological tour. If you’re mainly looking for ruins, monuments, or a long history lecture, this may not fill that need. But if you enjoy hearing how a place fits into the story of the region while walking through the countryside, it adds a worthwhile layer to the visit.

Inside the wine cellar

In the cellar, Kathrin explains how wine is made and how schnapps is distilled. You can sample homemade schnapps and liqueurs while hearing about the production methods. That tasting is a practical way to compare the farm’s products and understand how the wine-making process differs from distilling spirits.

The hands-on highlight comes next: you can fill, cork, and label a bottle of the farm’s award-winning wine directly from a fermentation tank. That small task makes the production process tangible. Instead of only hearing how wine is stored and prepared, you get to handle the bottle yourself.

It’s also a distinctive keepsake. The activity is part of the tour, while organic products are available to buy separately on site. If you plan to take wine or olive oil home, remember that purchases are not included in the tour price.

A Dalmatian table beneath the pergola

After the walk and cellar visit, you sit outdoors beneath a pergola beside the orchards. The setting is quiet and rural, with views toward Kaštela Bay and Split. The meal is a tasting spread rather than a restaurant course, and its variety gives you a broad sample of local flavors.

Expect locally dried prosciutto, aged cheese from the island of Pag, peka bread baked over a wood fire, and locally sea-salted fish fillets. There are also the farm’s traditionally prepared black olives, small peppers filled with cheese, cherry tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, and olive oil infused with wild herbs. Hand-picked dried figs and sugar-coated almonds round out the table.

White and red wines are paired with the food. This is a good chance to pay attention to how a wine tastes alongside salty fish, cured meat, cheese, or olive oil, rather than tasting each item on its own. Water is included too, a helpful option during a meal that features several wines and homemade spirits.

The presentation and quality of the food are among the most praised parts of the visit, along with Kathrin’s personal hosting. The spread is generous in its range, but the experience is not designed as a full restaurant meal with a menu of choices. If you have dietary restrictions, ask the farm before booking; no specific substitutions are described.

Accordion music and local dress

As you eat, Kathrin plays and sings traditional Dalmatian songs on the accordion, wearing traditional local dress. It turns the meal into more than a tasting and gives the farm’s hospitality a cultural element. The music is live entertainment, not a separate concert, so it works best for visitors who enjoy food and conversation with a bit of performance.

The overall tone is personal. You are visiting a family operation, hearing its host talk about the work, and seeing local products presented in their setting. That can be a refreshing change from a large winery visit built around a tasting counter. It also means the farm’s personality is a big part of the day. If you prefer a quiet tasting without music or conversation, this may not be your ideal format.

Is $173 a fair price?

At $173 per person, this is not a quick or inexpensive wine tasting. You are paying for a 3.5-hour visit with a small group, a guided walk through the farm, a cellar tour, samples of schnapps and liqueurs, a bottle-filling activity, a substantial tasting spread, wine and olive oil, live music, and pickup from designated points. You can also meet directly at the estate.

The value depends on what you want from a farm visit. If you only want a glass of wine, this is more than you need. But if you want to spend time with a producer, learn how the farm works, taste several local foods, and take part in making a bottle, the price covers much more than the drinks alone.

The activity’s small size is important to that calculation. With a maximum of six participants, you can expect a more personal visit than a large group tasting, though the small-group format does not mean the farm is private to your party. The 210-minute duration also makes it a substantial outing, so allow enough time in your day rather than trying to squeeze it between several short stops.

Getting to the farm and planning your visit

Pickup is offered from two locations. In Trogir, meet at Bistro Baketina at the T4 parking lot by the city beach on Kneza Trpimira. It is a five-minute walk along the seaside from the Trogir bus terminal, and the drive to the estate takes about ten minutes.

The other pickup point is the bus station on the main road by Split Airport. The meeting point is on the road toward Split, at the station with the airport in front of you. If you have your own car, you can meet at Put Bijaća 38 in Kaštel Novi. The farm provides driving directions, including the turns from the airport exit, so check them before setting off.

Tours are offered with a live guide in German, English, French, or Croatian. Check the available start times when booking. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and a reserve-now, pay-later option is available. These terms offer some flexibility, but the important practical step is choosing the right pickup point and arriving ready for an outdoor walk.

Who will enjoy this farm visit?

I’d choose this tour if you’re interested in the connection between local agriculture and the food on your table. It suits couples, friends, and adult visitors who enjoy tasting regional specialties and talking with the person who produces them. The hands-on wine bottling and the mix of orchard, vineyard, cellar, and meal keep the visit varied.

It is also a strong option if you want a personal outing near Trogir or Split without planning separate transport to a farm. The scenery, history, and food give the visit several points of interest, while the small group gives Kathrin time to explain what you’re seeing.

It is less suited to anyone who wants a fast tasting, a child-friendly activity, or a purely technical wine seminar. The farm’s walk, cellar explanations, meal, and live music make for an unhurried visit. If that sounds like a good use of half a day, the combination of practical farming details and warm hosting is the reason to book.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts 210 minutes, or about three hours and 30 minutes.

Where can I meet for pickup?

Pickup is offered at Bistro Baketina in Trogir’s T4 parking lot by the city beach, or at the bus station on the main road by Split Airport. You can also meet at the estate at Put Bijaća 38 in Kaštel Novi.

How large is the group?

The group is limited to six participants.

What languages are available?

The live guide is available in German, English, French, and Croatian.

What food and drink are included?

The tasting includes white and red wine, homemade schnapps and liqueurs, prosciutto, Pag cheese, peka bread, sea-salted fish fillets, olives, cheese-filled peppers, cherry tomatoes, olive oil, dried figs, sugar-coated almonds, and water.

Can I make my own bottle of wine?

Yes. You can fill, cork, and label a bottle of the farm’s wine directly from a fermentation tank.

What should I wear or bring?

Wear comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing.

Can children join the tour?

No. The activity is not suitable for children under 18 or people over 95.