Marlais Winery — Attraction in Općina Ston

A spontaneous stop turned holiday highlight!

On a whim, guided by really good Google Maps reviews, we decided to drop in on Winery Marlais. We threw caution to the wind and arrived with no reservation, a move that could have ended in tragedy (or at least, thirst). But fear not! The legendary owner, Ante, greeted us with open arms and masterfully squeezed us into an ongoing tour. We immediately felt like we'd won the lottery.

We were treated to a fascinating journey through the winery's impressive history and got a peek behind the curtain at the magic of winemaking. But let's be honest, we were all eagerly awaiting the main event: the tasting. And what an event it was! It was easily one of the best tasting experiences I've ever had.

I had the pleasure of sampling their signature red, Skrapa, across three vintages: 2016, 2015, and 2013. Each one was a showstopper, hands down some of the best red wine I've ever tasted. Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, the next vintage would prove me wrong. It was a delicious rollercoaster of excellence.

This visit was a true highlight of our vacation and an unforgettable experience for our whole group across three generations. A massive thank you to Ante and the entire team for their incredible hospitality – and a special shout-out to the wonderfully friendly chap from Brisbane whose name we unfortunately didn't catch. You guys...

Overrated and overpriced! I was with my wife and went there , rang the bell as advised and were received by the owner (Alan) , we agreed on having the two options of wine tasting he had available (one for my wife with Rose and another to me) . Despite many tables available, we were served standing. After the first wine (white), we keep waiting for the second - there were not a place to dispose the remaining and the owner was wondering when we will drink the rest of the glass because he want us to use the same one for the Rose and for the red wines…. No water was offered. Three small slices of strong cheese with some olive oil, with white soft sliced bread (used for make toast)… The price of the tasting was 65 and 75 kunas (3 wines). At end, the wines were ok, but the...

Not a kind of hospitality that I would get from other croatian winemakers from the region. This was similarly to my experience with some Napa Valley wine makers (e.g., it's more about charging everything than providing a unique experience). Tasting is quite overpriced. 10 EUR for tasting would be fine if you try 40-50 EUR bottles of wine. Also, lots of winemakers wave tasting fees if you buy their wine. You should provide different glasses for tasting of white & red - I guess that's a basic rule!! Reds are overrated and overpriced (plavac mali is average; you buy Dingač for that money in Potomje village!!). White cuvee was nice and I bought some. Overall, the hospitality needs to be improved, with some perks included, such as 10% discount if people buy...