Wine Roads and Olive Groves: A Gastronomic Journey Through Montenegro from Your Villa

Montenegro is a country with ancient winemaking traditions. Local grape varieties like Vranac (red) and Krstač (white) produce wines with a unique character.

Montenegro is a country with ancient winemaking traditions. Local grape varieties like Vranac (red) and Krstač (white) produce wines with a unique character. And while there are large producers, the real treasures are the small family-owned wineries that tourist buses don’t visit.

What is a Wine Tour?
An private trip to wineries typically lasts about 6 hours and starts from Budva. The itinerary is tailored to your preferences: you can visit one or several wineries, add a walk along Lake Skadar, or stop at picturesque locations along the way.

What’s included:

  • Transfer in a comfortable vehicle

  • Stops at viewpoints with panoramic vistas (ascending up to 700 meters above sea level)

  • Visits to wineries with tastings (paid separately: usually €10-15 per person for 4-5 wine varieties with snacks)

  • Guide’s commentary on the region’s history and winemaking traditions

Optional additions:

  • A boat trip on Lake Skadar (a national park, with blooming water lilies and a bird sanctuary)

  • Lunch in a traditional restaurant

  • Visits to monasteries along the route

Wineries Worth Visiting

Vinarija Marković
One of the popular wineries in the Lake Skadar region. Here you can taste several wine varieties accompanied by traditional snacks—prosciutto, cheese, olives. Guests consistently praise the high quality of the tastings and the opportunity to buy excellent wine at reasonable prices.

Vinarija Buk
A small but very charming winery. They offer tastings of 5 wine varieties with snacks. The atmosphere is perfect for long conversations and getting to know the real Montenegro.

Vinarija Vučićević
Another family-run winery where they treat their product with genuine passion. Guests often mention the warm welcome and the chance to try rare varieties.

Vinarija Savina
Located near Kotor in a scenic spot at the foot of the mountains. This winery is known for its high-quality wines from local grape varieties. Here you can not only taste wines but also tour the vineyards and cellars, learning about the production process. There’s a cozy restaurant on site serving local cuisine.

Family Micro-Wineries: For True Seekers
For those who want to venture off the beaten path, there are tiny family cellars open by appointment, producing only 200-300 bottles a year.

Vinarija Perast — a small cellar in an old house 5 km from Perast. They produce Krstač and a house Rosé. Lunch under the grape arbor needs to be arranged in advance.

Konoba Bijela — in a village at the mouth of the Piva River, the Tomović family runs a small cellar right on the shore. Their blend of Vranac and Cabernet Sauvignon is sold in hand-painted bottles for around €8-10.

Tip: Contact the owners via Instagram a few days before your visit. Visits are usually scheduled for the morning or late afternoon when it’s cooler and there are fewer tourists.

Gastronomic Tours with Oysters
Special mention should be made of tours that combine wine tasting with freshly harvested oysters straight from the farm. Such excursions typically start from Tivat and wind through the picturesque Bay of Kotor.

Typical Program:

  • Ferry crossing across the bay

  • Visit to a family-run oyster farm: tasting of freshly shucked oysters and mussels with a glass of white wine (tasting cost around €15)

  • Continue towards Herceg Novi

  • Visit to a winery overlooking the bay: tasting of 3 wine varieties, rakija, cheese, prosciutto, and olives (around €55)

Guests who have been on such tours note that it’s not just a gastronomic journey but a true introduction to the culture and history of the region. Guides share stories about the towns of Tivat, Kamenari, and Lepetane, about Montenegro’s maritime history, and the views along the way stay with you forever.

Catering and Dining at the Villa: A Restaurant in Your Home
After a day full of gastronomic discoveries, it’s so pleasant to return to your villa. But what if you don’t feel like going out in the evening, yet your appetite has awakened?

The Restaurant at Oak Leaf Residences
The complex has its own restaurant with a panoramic view of the Budva Riviera. It’s the perfect option for when you want a high-quality dinner without the hassle of traveling. The restaurant offers Montenegrin and Mediterranean cuisine, and the sunset view from the window makes the evening unforgettable.

Arranging Catering Services
For special occasions—a romantic candlelit dinner, a family celebration, or just when you don’t feel like cooking—you can order catering directly to your villa.

Service Options:

  • Delivery of ready-made meals from restaurants in Budva

  • Hiring a private chef to prepare dinner at the villa

  • Arranging full banquet service for celebrations

This format is especially popular among guests celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, or hosting a wedding. Dinner on your own terrace overlooking the sea, with candles, excellent wine, and no strangers around—what could be more romantic?

Food Markets and Shops
For those who love to cook, the proximity to Budva (just a 6-minute drive) provides access to fresh local products:

  • Fish market — the freshest catch straight from the morning nets

  • Green market — seasonal vegetables, fruits, local cheeses, and olives

  • Supermarkets with a wide selection of local delicacies

In the villa’s own kitchen, you can prepare anything you like, then dine on the terrace with a sea view—perhaps this is the ultimate luxury of a stay at Oak Leaf Residences.

Practical Tips for Gastronomic Travelers

  • Booking tables: During the high season, popular restaurants (especially Konoba Astarea and Jadran Kod Krsta) are best booked in advance, particularly for evening meals.

  • Tipping: In Montenegro, it’s customary to leave 10% of the bill if service isn’t already included.

  • Wine purchases: Prices at wineries are significantly lower than in stores. Be sure to buy wine where you tasted it. For transport, ask for paper bags and mark your luggage as “Fragile”.

  • Language: In most Budva restaurants, staff speak English (and often Russian), but at family wineries, a guide-translator can be very helpful.

  • Roads: If you decide to search for family wineries on your own, be cautious—the mountain roads are narrow and winding. Many guests prefer to use the services of professional guides with comfortable vehicles.

Returning with New Flavors
A gastronomic journey through Montenegro is an opportunity not just to try new dishes, but to understand the country through its tastes. The wild herbs on the mountain slopes, the freshness of the Adriatic in the oysters, the tannins of Vranac aged in oak barrels—all of this forms a mosaic of impressions that stay with you long after you’ve returned home.

And in the evening, returning to your villa at Oak Leaf Residences, you bring back not only a bottle of your favorite wine but also new stories. You fall asleep to the sound of the sea, knowing that tomorrow awaits with another gastronomic discovery—or simply a leisurely breakfast on your own terrace overlooking the endless blue.

Ready to explore Montenegro’s wine map? The staff at Oak Leaf Residences can help arrange a private tour to the wineries, book a table at the best restaurant, or organize a romantic dinner with catering right at your villa. Just ask at reception—we know where the good food is.