7 Days Wine Tour Crete and Santorini

A fantastic tour for people seeking unique experiences in Crete! Crete is famous for its products and its culture. In Crete, you will explore the Cretan cuisine, you will to learn about the Mediterranean diet, enjoy local food, taste local wines and Cretan products. You will discover amazing sites and places. You visit 3 of the famous towns of Crete. Heraklion, Chania and Rethymno.You will have the opportunity to learn about the ancient Minoan culture and the history of Crete. The trip involves visits to wineries. Taste the Best Wines of the region which are awarded prizes in international competitions. Taste the indigenous varieties of Crete such as Dafni Kotsifali, Liatiko, Vidiano, Vilana, Thrapsathiri, Pluto, Malvasia di Candia, Muscat of Spina or the local with International varieties such as Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Santorini is the island of the Cyclades and will give you moments of mythology. Feelings superlative surrendered to the intensity of contrasts. The black earth with the whitewashed Caldera villages. The wild volcanic sculptures with simple Cycladic lines. Welcome to the Aegean Sea, one of the most popular destinations in Greece. Welcome to one of the most beautiful Greek islands. Welcome to Santorini. It resides beneath its bio-climatic roof: it is Akrotiri, the “Pompeii of the Aegean”. Apart from a high-standard holiday, Santorini will also enjoy rare trips in history. Walk and experience one of the most important cultures of the Aegean, covered by the ash of the great volcanic eruption in 1600 BC. Visit wineries and taste the indigenous varieties of Santorini Assyrtiko, Visanto, and Nykteri. Learn about the history and tradition of local grapes, wine, and olive oil making, while you’re diving into the wine’s tastes, in the two wineries we have selected for you.

Itinerary Day 1. Heraklion-Arrival-Welcome Dinner Arrival and reception at Heraklion airport. Check in to your room relax and explore your surroundings before dinner. Meals included: Dinner with wine Overnight Heraklion

Day 2. Heraklion - Knossos Palace–Visit PDO Archanes - Wine Tasting Experience - Vertical Wine Pairing

Today you will visit the Palace of Knossos. The Palace of Knossos is one monument you must see in Crete. Built 3500 years ago!

Winery 1: The Domaine Paterianakis is located in Melesses, in the Peza wine region, right in the center of Crete. It was founded in 1988 by Giorgos Paterianakis, with a focus on the creation of a quality Cretan wine. The third generation of the Paterianakis family, Emmanuela and Niki, are continuing the wine tradition of organic farming, creating authentic Cretan wines with a strong personality. The winery is located within its vineyards, a pioneer facility built so that wine-making is done most naturally, exploiting gravity. Guided wine-tasting with 5 different select Domaine wines, tasting our tsikoudia from local grapes and tasting virgin olive oil and accompanied tasting with a platter of selected Cretan cheeses, deli meat, and handmade marmalade.

Winery 2: The ultimate experience for every wine lover is unapologetically a Vertical Wine Tasting which will allow you to understand in depth the History of our Winery. In this Wine Tasting experience you will get to taste different Vintages of the same Vinification, as our Certified Sommelier shares with you notes and thoughts about each vintage. Following your detailed tasting we will offer you the perfect pairing on each vintage according to each wine individually. Your Vertical tasting will take place in a private setting, underground, in the cellar of our winery, as you savor 5 different Vintages, around the lingering aromas of our aging barrels.You have the option to choose between a selection of White Wines or a series of Red wines, with the according pairing. Meals included: Breakfast – Lunch - Dinner Overnight: Heraklion Day 3. Food & Walking Tour of the Old Town of Rethymno and Wine Tasting

The route: of authentic Crete : Follow us, as we stroll around the city and let’s taste together the products of the Cretan Diet. On the route, we shall touch and smell the herbs and spices of Cretan soil. Be our guest for the next few hours and feel the warmth and the real Cretan hospitality. It will be an experience. On our way, we will visit a traditional place in the heart of the old town of Rethymno where we will taste traditional products such as local cheese, honey of thyme local wine Cretan olives and also the famous Cretan traditional drink raki and many other products. During your tour of the city, you will discover historical monuments and see theVenetian architecture of another era. You can also enjoy if you wish a meal in the heart of the city or in the old port of Rethymno overlooking the Egyptian lighthouse. Enjoy a day full of Cretan customs, lifestyle, and culture! This tour will provide you with a deeper understanding of the lifestyle and customs of Crete. During your tour of the city, you will discover historical monuments and see the Venetian architecture of another era. Visit Winery

It is the brainchild of Yiannis Metaxakis who established it in 2019 motivated by his love for wine making and his experience growing the family's vineyards. The Margarita gorge and the Margaritianos stream create a unique landscape and an ideal microclimate (terroir) suitable both for the establishment and the planting of new vineyards. We created a modern winery with love and respect for Cretan tradition and our natural environment and we are ready to welcome anyone who wants to travel to the exciting world of wine. Taste 6 different wines served with rusks , olives and cheese. Meals included: Breakfast –Food Tour- Dinner Overnight: Heraklion

Day 4 . Chania Free Walking Tour - Monastery of the Holy Trinity of Tzagarolos- Farewell Dinner

Chania is a scenic city that combines the strong traditional color of living history with the virtues of a modern city. The traces of all cultures and nations that dominated the city in the past are more than obvious as the city is a living museum where architectural styles and cultural attitudes have been harmonically blended. Visit the Chania town market dating from the 1900’s – it is a cross-shaped gallery that houses over 65 food stores, presenting fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy products, bread, legumes and anything else you may like, such as cafés, restaurants, and shopping, to the old town of Chania. In addition to its description in the monastery and the Museum of the Holy Trinity of Tzagaroli, the visitor can see up close how the unique quality organic olive oil is produced and exported by the monks, as well as wine, honey and vinegar as well as soap . from olive oil. In the historic Monastery of the Holy Trinity of Tzagarolos, famous for its tradition and fine grape varieties, the famous excellent wine of the Monastery is produced. With centuries of dedication and modern know-how, its monks offer a unique combination of varieties, perfectly adapted to the microclimate of the Akrotiri area of Chania. Hystory of Monastery Meals included: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner Overnight Heraklion

Day 5. Heraklion - Santorini - Gavalas Winery

Take a Ferry from Heraklion to Santorini. Duration (08:00 01h 50m 09:50) Arrival and reception at Santorini port. Check in to your room relax and explore your surroundings before dinner. The evening visit at the winery includes tasting of the whole range of the wines and tour at the winemaking areas. Visitors have the opportunity to taste a variety of wines and familiarize themselves with the unique characteristics of Santorini's terroir in the picturesque courtyard or the roof garden. A series of packages of nine different wines are available for tasting. Gavalas's sommeliers and enologists will guide you step by step from the production of the wine to the glass on your table. During the tour, participants learn about the history, tradition and latest developments of winemaking, while walking from the old stone-built cellars to the modern establishments. Meals included: Dinner with wine Overnight Santorini

Day 6. Guided Tour to 3 Wineries with Wine Tastings

Visit the most acclaimed wine estates on the island of Santorini and sample 12 different wines produced in the local wineries. Learn about the 3,500-year history of wine making on the volcanic island, starting at a vineyard located on the unique soils with traditional basket vines. Hear about the local viticulture that makes Santorini a world heritage site for wine production. Visit 3 distinct wine estates, such as the Argyros estate or Art Space Winery, the Koutsoyannopoulos Wine Museum, Venetsanos Winery or Gavalas Estate Winery. Taste organic wines, such as Nykteri, Assyrtiko, and Vinsanto, with local delicacies including cheese and olives. Meals included: Dinner with wine Overnight Santorini

Day 7.Santorini – Departure

Breakfast THANK YOU FOR COMING Have a nice flight back home! KALO TAXIDI!

Highlights:

 8 Winery Tour (4 in Crete and 4 in Santorini)  Walking of the Old Town of Rethymno  Visit Knossos Palace with Professional Licence Guide  Visit Heraklion  Food Tour in Rethymno Free Walking tour in Chania  Visit Santorini  Taste the Best Wines of the region which are awarded prizes in international competitions.  Taste the indigenous varieties of Crete such as Dafni Kotsifali, Liatiko, Vidiano, Vilana, Thrapsathiri, Pluto, Malvasia di Candia, Muscat of Spina or the local with International varieties such as Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon.  Taste the indigenous varieties of Santorini Assyrtiko, Visanto, and Nykteri  Learn about the history and tradition of local grapes, wine, and olive oil making, while you’re diving into the wine’s tastes, in the two wineries we have selected for you.  Learn the secrets of wine, how they produced, and how it ages.  Know how to choose a good wine, how to pair it, how to serve it, the right temperatures, and how to store it.

 We provide  All Accommodations 4* Hotel in Heraklion City & Santorini  Transportation – Airport / hotel on day of arrival and hotel / port on day of departure and welcome dinner  Professional Licence Guide in Knossos Palace  Meals – 6 breakfasts, 6 Dinner, 2 Lunch, 1 Food Tour  All private tours  All excursions transfers  All entrance fee  Ferry Tickets

We do not provide  Overnight tax  Tips  Anything not mentioned above or below