Come in, Croatia

This year is Croatia's 21st birthday – a coming of age. She's grown into a great beauty, with much to offer both the tourist and the gourmet. Her coastlines are breathtaking, and inland are warm stone villages and soft rolling hills. The truffles, velvety gnocchi, wild asparagus, fresh fish and bright peppery olive oils are enough to make the most bored foodie feel alive again. (See this guide to Tam's accounts of her trip to Istria in northern Croatia in 2012 – JR)

There's a timelessness about Croatia, and yet, not lagging behind the times, her wines are also coming...