Marshalls Abroad

croatia Life

The Hills and Vineyards of Kutjevo, Croatia

Slavonia is the beautiful, least visited and most eastern region of Croatia. It’s full of rolling hills of grain, vineyards, all kinds of produce, and in the summertime — sunflowers literally as far as the eye can see! It’s known as the “Bread Basket” of Croatia and holds one of the country’s most famous and beloved wine regions near the small village of Kutjevo. A big part of why we traveled there was to visit two of our favorite wineries, Krauthaker and Adžić. One of the wonderful aspects of wineries in Croatia is that they are almost always small, family owned and run and with the focus on quality, not quantity. Nearly every winery we’ve visited has been in the family’s home or their personal cellar and we’ve had the chance to taste wines with the winemaker himself.

Sweet Gracie girl exploring the Krauthaker cellar.

Cam was poured (huge!) tastings straight from the barrels.

Drinking amazing Adžić wines (with local cheese and bread) with Mr. Adžić himself!

The dvorac (castle) just a short walk up the street from where we stayed in Kutjevo at Sontacchi Winery B&B — owned by a lovely family that cooked traditional Slavonian meals for us each night.

The beautiful Cathedral of St. Peter in Đakovo, not far from where we stayed. I’m in love with the starry night ceilings inside the cathedrals and churches in this part of the world!

We visited this Serbian Orthodox Monastery, without knowing that it was a Serb Orthodox holiday. It was packed with people and vendors, and as we walked in, it felt as though the music stopped and everyone abruptly ended their conversations and all turned to outright stare at us. I’m laughing writing this, but needless to say, we felt incredibly foreign and awkwardly out of place. The monastery is beautiful though! It’s in a remote, forested spot surrounded by mountains and would have been lovely to visit on a quiet day.


Comments

  1. Caravan Sonnet says

    These pictures are absolutely gorgeous!! I giggled about your adventure at the Monastery and swooned at the beauty of these pictures! *smiles* Don't laugh… but I think I have pinned EVERY SINGLE ONE of your posts recently. 🙂 Dreaming of visiting this area of the world! Croatia is stunningly gorgeous!!
    Sending Love, Rebecca 🙂

    • Amanda Marshall says

      Aw thank you as always, Rebecca!! I hope you get to visit this country – I know I say it all the time, but you would love it! Hope you're doing so well, friend! xoxo

  3. Emily grapes says

    I bet it is such a treat to be able to communicate with the locals. No doubt it makes the experience that much better for you guys.
    We went to Porto, Portugal since we love Port wine and got to meet a local family who makes their own port, thanks to our AirB&B host. He took us right into their kitchen, she poured us 2 huge glasses of port each, then proceeded to gift us two bottles of their wine. And it was far superior at two years than the twenty year commercialized ports we've tasted.

    • Amanda Marshall says

      Yes, it really does!
      Your story is one of the things we love most about Europe – small, hospitable family-run businesses that make wine makers so accessible to normal people like us! I love Port – that sounds amazing. If we get to make it there, I'm going to ask you for your airbnb info!

  4. Robyn says

    I LOVE that pic of Gracie sniffing the roses 🙂 It reminds me of my little girl (I gave birth in March) and everything I want to introduce her to… I love roses and think she will too 🙂 Havent commented in a while since having my baby (I'm sure you know how it goes) but wow, after catching up on your blog, I must let you know that John Shea and Gracie are beautiful babies 🙂 I emailed you for some advice on my upcoming move… looking forward to hearing from you XXX

    • Amanda Marshall says

      Thank you so much, Robyn!! We have had guests with us straight for the past two months so that's part of why I have been behind – but Cam's parents are here now and I have some time to catch up, will write you back today! Isn't it so much fun having a little girl!?

  5. Tim and Lanna Britt says

    Adorable American family (with super tall dad) who all look like a JCrew catalogue with big huge smiles traveling remote areas of eastern european country? And you are saying you didn't blend in??? SHOCKING! 😉 That's a fun story! CANNOT WAIT TO EXPERIENCE CROATIAN VINEYARDS in just three (eeeeeeee!!!!) weeks with you! ~ a very excited Lanneybear
    PS. It's made with bits of real panther… so you know it's good.

  6. brittany says

    your stories and photos make me the happiest, always!! and oh, the flowers. OH the wineries. incredible!! xoxoxoxo you guys are just beautiful. 🙂

  8. roney ahmed says

    الخزانات من اكثر الاشياء التى لابد من الاهتمام بها لانها متعلقه بالصحه العامه فلا داعى للقلق بشان تنظيف الخزانات على الاطلاق. شركة غسيل خزانات بالمدينة المنورة توفر لك الاجراءات اللازمه
    شركة غسيل خزانات بالمدينة المنورة     لاعمال غسيل خزانات فان الخزانات من الاشياء المتعلقه بالصحه العامه فلا تقلق على صحتك وصحة افراد اسرتك على الاطلاق. غسيل خزانات بالمدينة المنورة تعتمد على اقوى طاقم عمل مدرب على اعلى مستوى للقيام باعمال التنظيف
    غسيل خزانات بالمدينة المنورة     بالاعتماد على مواد فعالة مخصصه فى اعمال التنظيف فلا تقلق بشان غسيل خزانات بالمدينه المنوره على الاطلاق كل ذلك فى مقابل اقل الاسعار المتواجده فى الاسواق. غسيل خزانات مع العزل والتعقيم على اتم استعداد للوصول الى اى مكان بالمدينة المنورة
    غسيل خزانات بالمدينه المنوره     فلا تقلق ولا تتردد فى الاتصال بنا على الاطلاق.

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