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Heraklion SUV Private Guided Wine Tour with Lunch
Badge of ExcellenceHeraklion, Greece
- 5 to 6 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
Experience traditional Greek vineyards alongside a certified sommelier on this private excursion by SUV. Venture into the countryside and learn about the winemaking traditions of Crete, including a visit to a 500-year-old wine press. Your tour includes a wine tasting of 12 premium wines paired with local snacks and culminates with a delicious 3-course Cretan meal in the middle of the vineyards.
- Private tour with full access to the vineyard
- All food and drink is included
- Taste several different local wines
- Fully guided — see hidden gems and get local knowledge
Sample Menu
Starter
Seasonal fresh vegatable salad
Starter
Various cretan delicacies "meze" style
Main
Meat or other.
Dessert
Lemon pie or other
What's Included
- Lunch Time. 3 course traditional cuisine food and wine pairing meal
- Visit 2 Αward-Winning Family Wineries and learn about the wine making art.
- Taste 12 Selected Wines From Crete's exquisite grape varieties
- All Gratuities
- Tranfers from/to Chersonisos, Malia, Agia Pelagia additional charge 22 US $ per booking
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Traveler Photos
See more
Featured review
Tachivei_M
Undoubtably one of the best experiences of our holiday in Crete. Areti was such a delight and her knowledge of wine is impeccable. I would certainly recommend this to all wine lovers. The wine experience lasted the whole day and it was worth it!
Reviews
5.0
104 reviews
Paul_P, Oct 2023
We had high expectations of this tour as it sounded exactly our kind of experience - private, targeted at couples, including a decent amount of wine & food, and the gleaming reviews. We were not disappointed - in fact, our expectations were exceeded. Here's why...
Soon after booking, and separately to the automated Viator confirmation, we received a direct message from Areti thanking us for our booking, and this included her contact details. A nice touch and made us feel extra reassured at this point. We also exchanged messages the day before the tour and received confirmation of pickup from our hotel (NEMA Design Hotel in Analipsi) and the precise time (a comfortable 10:15 start).
After greeting us at the agreed spot, she whisked us away in the comfort and privacy of her own SUV (a Nissan Qashqai I believe). The drive to the first vineyard was about 30 minutes, and we learned some interesting facts along the way. After a while, some nice music was played, and we were offered the opportunity to choose different music if we preferred, but it was just right.
We arrived at Digenakis winery, and were the only guests at that time (private indeed)! Areti grabbed us a bunch of grapes each from the crates outside, and we headed inside and were handed over to the staff. We were then given a short guided tour of the winery (whilst snacking on the grapes) before being seated and handed back to Areti at our table for 3 in the window, looking out over the beautiful countryside.
A plate of breadsticks, cheeses, and meats was then presented, and the wines brought out one at a time by the staff. With each wine, Areti introduced the grape variety, described the nose & tasting notes, advised which of the snacks to pair it with, and made recommendations of the types of food it goes well with. There were also several fun stories as we got to know Areti more and discovered her fun sense of humour. This was starting to feel more like a day out with a friend than a formal guided tour. This made us feel very relaxed.
After all the tastings (the pours were sensible but they do add up), we had the opportunity to buy any of the wines we'd tried. We opted for 3 different bottles, and paid by card. We were offered the chance to pay by cash in exchange for a 10% discount, but had taken limited cash. But it's worth other travelers knowing this for making a small saving. The wines were very affordable however, particularly for the quality. We asked for extra bags as we will need to wrap the bottles carefully for flying home.
We were then driven up into the hills to visit the remains of an ancient wine press. This included a couple of minutes of off-road driving, but luckily we had a super-comfy SUV. There was then a few minutes walk over rough terrain to reach the site, so wear comfortable shoes as advised. This was a short but fascinating stop. We also got to pick and smell herbs growing in the wild, and observe the beautiful landscape.
Just a few minutes drive away was our second winery visit. Areti thoughtfully found a parking spot in the shade to protect our purchases from heating up in the 31'c sun. The Lyrarakis winery is far bigger than Digenakis, and naturally there were more visitors here, but it didn't feel like many people, and our visit was still respected as private. Areti provided the short tour this time, showcasing their barrels, vintage bottles, and press. Before the main event... more tastings and food! We were led outside to a semi-covered area, where we had our own private table, right at the edge of the vineyard with a totally unobstructed view. It was beautiful, and so peaceful too. The other 4 or 5 tables of guests had no impact on our privacy at all.
As before, each wine was brought out one at a time, but this time, each was paired with a lunch course, and the pours were very generous - a half to a full glass in some cases! The food was delightful, with highlights including Stuffed Courgette Flowers, Pitakia (Cretan Pie), Smoked Pork, and Honey & Cheese Pancakes. The whole dining experience was completely sumptuous, all while chatting and laughing with Areti, and we even got to pet the winery's resident dog, Daphne.
We ended the visit as before with a stop in the shop, where we bought another 3 bottles (again at good prices), before we headed back to the car. The fun conversations with Areti continued on the way back and, having discovered similar musical tastes during lunch, she played music she knew we'd enjoy. Back at the hotel, we all hugged before heading off, it was like saying goodbye to a friend we'd known for much longer.
From end to end, this was an exceptional tour, with expert knowledge, generous wine pourings, delectable food, beautiful surroundings, and excellent company. All of this justifies the price entirely. This was the absolute highlight of our stay in Crete. If you're reading this to help decide if this tour is for you, just book now, you won't regret it!
Thank you Areti, it was a pleasure. Love Paul & Rich xx
David_O, Sep 2023
Areti is very knowledgeable and proud of Crete and it’s amazing wines! Tasted lots of wines and delicious food!
Brittany_M, Jul 2023
We had the best time on our tour! We were even able to customize our wine experience based on our preferences. It was the highlight of our trip.
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Hi Brittany, thank you for your review. It is always the most interesting for me to satisfy the personal taste of my customers while introducing them to the Cretan Wines. I am glad that you enjoyed it!
Stephanie_T, Jul 2023
We had the very best day with Areti! The wineries were both absolutely wonderful and so was the wine and food. Areti knew an incredible amount about wine and the region and was such a gracious host. I would consider this tour to be one of the best parts of our entire time in Greece. We all had so much fun!
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Thank you Stephanie for your five stars! I had a great day with you, too. I will be really glad to accommodate you again in the future!
dsphillips4, Jul 2023
From start to finish, this was an amazing experience. If you love wine and good food, I highly recommend this tour. Learn the history of Crete, wine making, and enjoy some local food (bring your appetite!). I would so this same tour over and over! Our guide was absolutely wonderful. It was the highlight of our trip to the island.
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Dear Debbie, thank you so much for your review! I would like to see you back for more Cretan wine and gastronomy experiences!
Tachivei_M, Jun 2023
Undoubtably one of the best experiences of our holiday in Crete. Areti was such a delight and her knowledge of wine is impeccable. I would certainly recommend this to all wine lovers. The wine experience lasted the whole day and it was worth it!
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Thank you Tachivei for your review. Knowing that you really enjoyed the tour, is the best reward for me! I would love to see you back for more fine local wines!
Dillon_H, May 2023
This was a great experience! We throughly enjoyed tasting the wine from Crete and our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable! Would highly recommend on this experience!
Response from Host, Jun 2023
Thank you Dilon for your review!
Knowing that you enjoyed the tour and the wines of Crete, is my best reward!
Sean_G, May 2023
Delicious food, great wine, gorgeous scenery and friendly and informative company! Highly recommended.
Response from Host, May 2023
Thank you Sean for your review!
I hope to accomodate you again in the future!
Michael_J, Apr 2023
We are food and wine lovers and were very interested in exploring the scene in Crete. This tour was a fantastic part of our journey, thanks particularly to our wonderful, passionate guide, Arteri, a true expert.
Response from Host, May 2023
Thank you Michael! I really enjoyed your company, too. I hope I will guide you again in the future to more Cretan wine, food and beauties.
Tali_K, Mar 2023
Areti is phenomenal! She is an incredibly knowledgeable guide and sommelier. I can not recommend her company enough. We attended during off season and Areti used her connections to create an amazing itinerary when one of the larger wineries was still closed.
It was a perfect day and I can’t thank Areti enough!!
If you love wine, want to learn about Cretan wine, history, & culture, and eat amazingly while you it, do yourself a favor and book with Oinos Experience!!
Response from Host, Mar 2023
Tali! What a great review, thank you so much! The day we spent together was a pleasure for me!
I hope next time you will have more time to explore the unique island of Crete and meet local people!
Special Offer
From $217.65
$241.83 Save $24.18
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Heraklion SUV Private Guided Wine Tour with Lunch
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