PELJESAC, Croatia

Not technically an island (connected to the mainland via the Ston road) but extremely remote and possibly the most diverse area of Dalmatia.  To the North you can find isolated fishing villages with spanking fresh seafood, a windsurfing paradise in Viganj and an almost 1000m high mountain in Sveti Ilija.  Further to the south, the landscape is dominated again by vineyards, with the indigenous grape Plavac Mali dominating the slopes.  Plavac Mali is a relative of the Zinfandel grape, the heavy tannins and bold fruits pairing well with the local dish peka, a meat or octopus stew cooked within a metal dome and surrounded by shimmering coals.