Return transfer from Bol to Jelsa Wine festival 2025.

Jelsa wine festival has returned to its original intentions – as a merry showcase promoting Hvar’s wines, especially the best of them, which are produced in the area around Jelsa, a fertile area for growing grapes, where different producers work on their theories, resulting in a delightful variety of red and white wines, ‘opolo’ rosés and prošek (sweet dessert wine). Over the last thirty years, these wines have distinguished themselves, winning prizes in competitions and delighting Jelsa’s visitors, who have the chance at the Wine Festival to taste the various wines and appreciate the differences between those produced on Hvar’s southern slopes, Jelsa’s valleys and hillsides, or fields by the sea.

Program for Jelsa Wine Festival on Saturday, 23. August 2025.

21:30 – Fire Show „Twin Flame“ – Waterfront
22:00 – Concert:’Minea’ – Main Square
22:00 – Music selection by Tabu (Keeper of the Groove) – Waterfront – wine point
00:00 – Concert ‘Pink Panther’ – Main Square

 About the Jelsa Wine Festival

The Hvar Wine Festival in Jelsa is one of the island’s most cherished traditions, with a history dating back to 1952. That year, Jelsa’s Community Cooperative Committee (Zajednica – zadružni savez Jelsa) hosted the very first event under the name Regional Cooperative Rally (Kotarski zadružni slet). Just two years later, in 1954, it was celebrated on Cooperative Day, and by 1956, it became known as The Wine Fair or The Cooperative Rally. In 1966, the event was held on August 14th — the day officially declared Jelsa’s Tourist Day. From then on, the Wine Fair was celebrated every August, usually from Friday to Sunday, when locals and visitors gathered for lively music, dancing, and endless glasses of wine. The tradition was rooted in community spirit — to finish last year’s vintage and make room in the cellars for the new harvest.

Today, the Jelsa Wine Festival has grown into one of the top things to do on Hvar in summer. It celebrates the island’s winemaking heritage while highlighting premium Croatian wines through tastings, food pairings, and cultural events. Families can enjoy fun activities and entertainment throughout the day, while evenings bring live music, folklore performances, and a buzzing festival atmosphere that lasts well into the night.

For anyone planning a trip to Hvar, the Wine Festival in Jelsa is a must-experience. It’s not just a wine fair — it’s a vibrant celebration of tradition, flavor, and island life, making it a highlight of the summer season and a perfect way to experience authentic wine tasting in Croatia.