Today's fun and useless fact is that there are more astronauts than Masters of Wine in the world. So now you know.

There are in fact just over 300 Masters of Wine, so when one of them pops into your wine bar and has a positive experience, it is worth writing about, which is what happened recently at Split's original wine bar, Paradax, at MW Jo Ahearne dropped to soak up a little Croatian wine atmosphere and sample a glass of sparkling Tomac.

I first met Jo at Dalmacija Wine Expo in Split earlier this year, after which I interviewed her for Google News. We have been in touch a lot since, and Jo is currently on Hvar looking at wine-making possibilities on Croatia's premier island, including the delightful possibility that she might be able to get her hands on the 2014 grapes from the oldest plavac mali vineyard in the world. She is pictured above being interviewed by Croatian national television at last night's Hvar Wine Assocation tasting in Vrboska.

Jo told me that she had stumbled upon Paradox on her visit, and left with an extremely positive impression of the atmosphere, wine, service and considerable knowledge of the staff. 

Why not check out Paradox for yourself and find out why it is consistently at the top of Split's TripAdvisor ratings? Follow them on Facebook.

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Being number one in a city on TripAdvisor - and consistently so - does not happen by accident, and Paradox Wine and Cheese Bar has never been far away from Split's top spot since it opened last year. But just how do they do it, and what are people saying about the place?

I first visited late last year and was immediately impressed not just with the layout and ambiance, but the service and friendly welcome. It was as if Split had finally opened a true Irish pub atmosphere. There were several local expat regulars and a mix of locals and tourists as well, a place where all are welcome. 

The more times I visited, the more it became apparent that the real strength of Paradox is in the passion and knowledge of wine from its staff and owners, a rarity in the region. It is somewhat ironic that at a time when Croatian wines are starting to make headway internationally, it is hard to find places in the country, where waiters can expertly share knowledge or make exactly the right wine and food pairing recommendation. If that is what you are looking for, then head to Paradox. 

Not only is the wine knowlege first rate, but so too is the selection, and I doubt there is a better selection of wines available in a wine bar in the country. The owners are strong promoters of Croatian wine initiatives, and the regular tastings of some of the country's leading producers adds an extra touch of class to the establishment. It is the promotion of lesser known producers and indigenous grape varieties which is a joy to the wine lover - always something new to discover. The consistent message of comments this summer is what a great place Paradox has been to discover the wines of Croatia, backed up by impeccable service and knowledge. Here are a selection of recent comments:

“Great introduction to Croatian wine and cheese”

5 of 5 starsReviewed September 3, 2013 NEW

We went to Paradox due to our love of Wine and to good reviews - we were not disappointed! We were introduced to good combinations of cheese and wine by our very skilled waiter Petra. She had good knowledge of the wine and cheese and made som good choices for us. I was not aware that Croatia med their own Riesling, but they do, and it is very good, Don't miss this place!

“If you like cheese and wine, this is for you”

5 of 5 starsReviewed September 1, 2013 NEW

You must visit this place. Off the beaten track you are presented with wines to die for and a sumptuous selection of hams and cheeses. Just ask the staff what they recommend and you cannot go wrong. And you will leave a connoisseur of Croatian wine and Cheese. Sit outside and watch the world go by and it is simply perfect!!

“Cool place, great wine selection”

5 of 5 starsReviewed August 26, 2013

As I am a wine lover, this place was real treat for me and my wife, after a long walk trough the center of Split. Staff was polite and helpful with wine list. This place is a real refreshment and a pleasant surprise for us. Wine list tells me that owner is a passionate wine lover and it is clear that he wants to promote smaller local wine producers , which sometimes can be a great refreshment for people used to established wine brands.
We will certainly come back again. I recommend this wine bar to all lovers of a good wine and delicate snack.

“Delicious cheese and wine from enthusiastic expert”

5 of 5 starsReviewed August 24, 2013

This was brilliant. Well-priced wide selection of wines and cheeses from a really expert member of staff who told us loads about local wine and gave us some brilliant recommendations.

“Fantastic!”

5 of 5 starsReviewed August 23, 2013

Quite possibly the best wine and cheese bar I have been to yet! Fantastic spreads with local cheeses, meat, olives. The staff was incredibly knowledgable and patience. When ever something was placed on your table they throughly explained the details and specifications of the item. Extensive wine list, all of which come from different regions of Croatia. Excellent glassware and presentation!! One of our favourite places in Croatia. Kudos!

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