© Vladimir Vlajinić / BjelovarBilogora County Tourist Board
© Delimir Hrestak / BjelovarBilogora County Tourist Board
AUTUMN IN CONTINENTAL CROATIA: Bjelovar-Bilogora County
© Damir Bakarić / Bjelovar-Bilogora County Tourist Board
Issue topic
A magical autumn in the vineyard Visit family-run vineyards with centuries-old tradition and taste superb Bilogora wine. Text: Mirela Drkulec Miletić Photos: Bjelovar-Bilogora County Tourist Board
The view from the Daruvar Wine Road; Juicy grapes in the Bjelovar-Bilogora area produce superb wines; The Na malenom brijegu agricultural tourism.
Proof of the long tradition of cultivating grapevines, ever since Roman times, was found in one of the most beautiful archeological artifacts from Roman Daruvar - a glass wine goblet, called the Emperors Crown Cup (Vas diatretum Daruvarense). It was found in 1789 in the Roman ParkForest, and today is located in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.
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utumn is magical in itself. However, when the dense forests and tame hills of the Bilogora region turn shades of golden yellow and red, it becomes magic that is hard to resist. Visit Bilogora, the area at the foot of the longest and shortest mountain range in Croatia, at that time. You will be awaited by irresistible nature, hills covered in vineyards and family farms where the friendly locals will offer you superb wine and selected delicacies. You will also find so much more there - excursion sites, spas, an abundant offer of options for an active vacation, centers of culture such as the cities of Bjelovar and Daruvar... Vineyards have been cultivated in the Bilogora region since Roman times, and the winemaking tradition has stood the test of time to present-day. Nearly every family there has a vineyard, and many of them have invested their effort and winemaking knowledge into tourism. In those, smaller or larger, family-run wineries, you can taste the best wines paired with simple, yet incredibly delicious, homemade dishes. At some wineries, you can even try your hand at harvesting grapes, which is a unique experience.
tipTravelMagazine September - November 2017
Down the wine road The Bilogora Wine Road meanders through the picturesque area of northwestern Croatia, through shaded forests of oak and beech trees, juicy orchards, and fresh meadows. If you follow it, you will come across many wineries and farms: the Vinia excursion site and winery, the Coner winery and restaurant, OPG Mihoci - Vrata Bilogore, Čačija winery, Kamenitovac mountain cabin, Romska kuća, the Pajdo hunting cabin, the Ethno Park in Veliko Trojstvo, the Na Malenom brijegu excursion site, and the Bilogorska čarolija rural vacation home. If you head out towards the sunny slopes of Bilogora, Papak and Psunj, you will reach seven incredible locations on the Daruvar Wine Road: OPG Matej Kovačević, the cellars of Badel 1862 d.d. Daruvar winery in the Janković castle and at the winemaking sites in Donji Daruvar and Đulovac, Biogal dairy, OPG Voborski, Lotada winery, and the Queen café. Stop and taste the superb, awardwinning wine from that area. One of the most famous is Bilogorska Graševina, a fresh wine with a full, rich flavor. Don't miss out on superb dry wines, such as