Istria, Croatia with Meneghetti Wine Hotel

After enjoying your included airport lounge access, fly out to Zagreb to pick up your hire car for the scenic journey to Meneghetti, mapping the Slovenian border or the mountainous karst region of central Croatia’s Plitvice Lakes National Park. Your accommodation begun life as a 19th-century country estate and today it’s a vision of country-chic stone fireplaces, hardwood floors and exposed rafters – all idyllically surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. And, the anticipatory service is excellent, from the excellent spa and trio of secluded pools to the restaurant, which specialises in a modern take on traditional Istrian cuisine, and the private-pool villas, available as an upgrade.

While we’ve included a selection of activities, you’ll be able to fill your days as you wish, between your accommodation’s rural estate and the flexibility offered by your hire car. We’ve picked out just a few recommendations below.

Included afternoon winery tour with tasting
Let one of the winery’s resident experts guide you between everything from the vineyard, tasting room and wine storage to the winery rooftop terrace, barrel room and production room, enjoying separate guided tastings in each.

Included olive oil tasting
Taste your way through the estate’s other great gastronomic treasure, the olive oil – enjoyed with focaccia and Istrian skuta cheese.

Included wine tasting
Although traditionally its terroir might favour reds, Meneghetti also produces excellent rosés and whites using cutting-edge contemporary techniques. They’re showcased across a half-dozen guided samples that each come paired with creative bites.

Explore the estate
Take in the estate’s forest paths, olive groves and vineyards on walks and bike rides that can be as gentle or as ranging as you wish.

Wellness facilities
From massages and the fitness centre to the sauna and beauty treatments, there’s plenty of opportunity to unwind, not to mention with those sumptuous pools.

Explore the surrounds
With your hire car, you’ll have plenty of day trips to choose from. The local town of Bale impresses with its cobbled streets, stone houses and 16th-century castle, while medieval Motovun, Pula’s Roman amphitheatre and old-town Rovinj’s picturesque peninsula setting offer further intrigue. Brijuni National Park is a further highlight for boat rides between its beach-clad, forested islands.

Beach getaway
With the coast just a half hour’s stroll away, get your fix of seaside relaxation with the hotel’s delightful beach club, complete with bar.

Optional touring
Choose between everything from truffle hunting with dogs and guided tours in the locality to island hopping on a private boat and helicopter tours out to Dubrovnik.

You might want to extend your trip to for a few days hopping between Croatian islands or even to head along the coast to the UNESCO-listed jewel that is Dubrovnik. Otherwise, drive back to Zagreb for your flight back to the UK.