KONOBA BRATANIC

Konoba Bratanić is a family wine cellar and wine-making museum in the village of Vrbanj, in the heart of the island of Hvar. In 2014 the Croatian Ministry of Culture proclaimed its collection protected cultural heritage of the Republic of Croatia. It is the only konoba in the country with this status.

This authentic wine cellar lies in the basement of an old traditional Dalmatian stone house. Many Dalmatian houses have changed their look and use over time, but this konoba has kept both its original appearance and its purpose. Its 86 protected objects include wine presses, barrels of different sizes and materials, stone olive oil basins, glass and wooden vessels for wine and brandy, and tools for the vineyards and olive groves. Many of them are still in use, and guests are welcome to touch them.

Guests taste local wines while they listen to the stories of the Bratanić family, which connect them to a simpler time when the joys of life were found in the earth and the community. The story follows wine on Hvar from Greek times to today. The project was started by Miki Bratanić, a member of the Croatian Writers Association and the author of four books about the konoba. With its commitment to preserving traditional viticulture, the visit goes beyond a simple wine tasting and offers a look into Dalmatian culture and history. The konoba is not a restaurant or a bar, but a place to experience.

At Konoba Bratanić, guests discover local wines made from grapes grown in the Stari Grad Plain, an ancient agricultural landscape protected by UNESCO. White, red and rosé wines, along with dessert wines, are tasted as part of the storytelling tour and workshop.

The old family barrels are mostly empty today, but a small amount of the family wine remains and is shared with guests as part of the story. The cellar also keeps a selection of wines from other producers on the island, and the hosts introduce them during the visit.

The tour has four parts: History, Konoba tour, Wine touch and Sweet details. In this way the tasting is closely linked to the long history of winemaking on Hvar, and to the old tools and vessels used to make and store wine in Dalmatia over the generations.