Meneghetti Wine Hotel, Istria, Croatia

Surrounded by vineyards, olive groves, forest paths, and hiking and cycling trails, the Meneghetti Wine Hotel is a countryside estate designed with wine connoisseurs and food lovers in mind.

A member of the prestigious Relais & Châteaux collection since 2013, it tempts with 25 comfortable and light-filled rooms, suites, and one- or two-bedroom residences. All have hardwood flooring, bespoke artworks, antique style furniture, beds with high quality linens, and soothing hues. Modern amenities include air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, minibars, complimentary Wi-Fi, and bathrooms with bathrobes and slippers.

The hotel has two outdoor swimming pools with sundecks, an additional heated indoor pool, a well-equipped fitness room, a spa with a sauna and private rooms for massages and treatments, and a garden filled with Mediterranean herbs. There’s also a fine dining restaurant offering traditional Istrian dishes, creative desserts, award-winning estate wines, and an impressive whisky menu. A stay here means you’re ideally placed for visiting the nearby town of Bale as well as taking day trips to Brijuni National Park and the larger cities of Rovinj and Pula. The beach is just a 30-minute walk away from the hotel.