Kaštelir-Labinci: The place to go for local flavours of Istria this summer

by croatiaweek
July 11, 2021
in Food & Wine

(Photo credit: Sebastijan Skoko)

In the heart of the Istrian peninsula there are a number of hidden gems, one of them is Kastelir-Labinci, a small municipality with an incredible diversity of local products in such a small area with only 1500 residents.

There are as many as 150 family farms registered In Kaštelir-Labinci, with more than half of the population engaged in domestic production. There really is nothing you can not find there. But all this makes real sense only if visitors can also enjoy the truly unforgettable eno-gastronomic experiences in the heart of Istria.

Due to all this, the local council, the local tourist board and the Vitis Association have created an offer called Together In FREE FRIDAY TASTING. Every Friday, during July and August, visitors and tourists can visit local family farms and restaurants and taste free products and order promotional menus.

(Photo credit: Sebastijan Skoko)

The first free Friday tasting has just taken place with an excellent response as more than 2,000 people turned out in Kaštelir-Labinici.

The new initiative was officially presented this Friday, and along with numerous media representatives, Tulio Demetlika, Deputy Prefect of the Istrian County and Cristina Vojić Krajcar from the Istrian County Tourist Board responded to the presentation.

(Photo credit: Sebastijan Skoko)

Natura Camp Karli, a novelty in the local offer, ideal for Robinson Crusoe tourism lovers, was chosen as the starting point of the presentation.

On a large plot there are wooden houses and glamping tents with accommodation capacity for 50 people, there is no electricity except at a few points, and what guests get is invaluable – absolute peace and untouched nature.

(Photo credit: Sebastijan Skoko)

“We thought that Together In FREE FRIDAY TASTING is a specific offer that best evokes how tradition and modern life meet in our place and is an ideal example of what we have designed in the tourist promotion of our municipality, as well as everything we are still developing, all ideas which have yet to be realised. Today you will be hosted by our local producers, family farms where you will have the opportunity to enjoy the best flavours of Istria, and this is exactly what we offer our visitors, and what they really enjoy,” said Đulijano Petrović , head of Kaštelir-Labinci council, said on Friday.

(Photo credit: Sebastijan Skoko)

The route of family farms offered in Together In FREE FRIDAY TASTING means that visitors and tourists can try the highest quality and award-winning wines, olive oils that are already known to be among the best in the world, the only pumpkin oil in Istria, brandies that hide aromas and more than twenty herbs, fantastic craft beers, craft soft drinks such as tonics and ginger beer, but also learn first hand how to make homemade fuži, gnocchi and pljukanci. Visitors can also immediately cook the same pasta they made themselves and try it with homemade meat and vegetable sauces.

(Photo credit: Sebastijan Skoko)

Kaštelir-Labinci truly deserves to be put on the map. During Together In FREE FRIDAY TASTING, every Friday, the following locations can be visited:

OPG Irvin Kocijančić – free tasting of pumpkin oil / 15 – 20 h

OPG Edi Brčić – free tasting of wine and oil / 17 – 21 h

Cossetto wines – free tasting of three types of wine / 15 – 20 h

Wine Radoš – free tasting of four types of wine / 11 – 19 h

Istarska Kapljica – free tasting of three types of brandy / 11 – 19 h

OPG Čehić – free tasting of gin, brandy, wine, olive oil and honey / 11 – 19 h

Oliveri extra virgin olive oil – free tasting of five types of olive oil / 11 – 19 h

Castellana Craft Beer – tasting of two types of beer (bottle 0.33 lit), with Antipasto del giorno – at a promotional price of 100 kuna per person / 11-14 h and 18-23 h

OPG Lucija Venier – homemade pasta workshop – in in this offer, visitors make their own pasta, which they then cook and eat, and in addition, they offer drinks from the production of family farms; promotional price is 100 kuna per person / 11 h, 15 h and 17:30 h

OPG Igor Kocijančić – free tasting of oil and wine – to visit this family you need prior notice

ŽARDIN Traditional Restaurant – menu at a promotional price of 150 kuna per per person includes cold dish (Istrian prosciutto, sheep cheese, salami truffles and sausage), fuže mare-monti (shrimp and wild asparagus), homemade crostata with lemon cream, 0.25 l of wine and 0.25 l of mineral water / 11 – 19 h