Crete Wine Escapes

Handakas is the Byzantine name of Heraklion, the largest wine region of Crete where the majority of wineries are situated. On this tour, we’ll learn about Crete’s indigenous grapes as we explore some of the region’s vineyards, lightly trek to ancient wine presses, and/or hidden Byzantine churches. The wines come from two wineries paired with Cretan food. The itineraries in Heraklion wine zone are designed exclusively based on your wine profile and set for you personally.

Included in this tour

• Visit two wineries
• Visit two vineyards
• Visit the ancient presses or churches around the area
• 8 to 10 wines to taste
• Lunch with wine pairing
• Return transfers to and from your accommodation
• Complimentary refreshments in the car
• Professional commentary
• Sightseeing in the heartland of Heraklion
• Tasting notebook
• Our warmest hospitality

We start our experience by visiting the family owned Dourakis winery in the Apokoronas region of Chania where we enjoy five wines, explore the Dourakis wine cave cellar and learn about winemaking by Antonis himself. Next, we drive to the nearby village of Paidochori to meet a renowned Greek ceramist, Manousos Chalkiadakis. Manousos will exclusively open his home and atelier for us to taste five wines from indigenous Cretan grape varieties from different winemakers and wine regions.

Included in this tour

• ‍Visit one winery
• Visit the home and atelier of a local ceramist
• 10 wines to be tasted
• Food and wine pairing (Greek meze)
• Return transfers to and from pick up point
• Complimentary refreshments during transport
• Professional commentary
• Sightseeing in the heart of Chania’s wine region
• Tasting notebook

Our escape starts by visiting the pottery village of Margarites to explore the labyrinth of narrow alleyways and admire the ceramic works of the numerous shops in town. We then make our way to a ceramist to learn about the art of pottery and to make our own piece. Wine and music next with our friends and musicians Nelly and Dimitris as they open their home to us for a traditional Greek lunch paired with six Cretan wines from indigenous grapes. Our hosts will also treat us to some beautiful music. Dessert is reserved in a traditional taverna in the local village along with Cretan tsikoudia. The taverna contains the owner’s personal collection of folklore items that adorn every corner of the space.

Included in this tour

• Visit Margarites, a village famous for pottery
• Wine tasting in musician’s home
• Six wines to taste
• Wine and food pairing (Full Lunch and Dessert)
• Private music performance by the hosts
• Return transfers to and from pick up point
• Complimentary refreshments in the car
• Professional commentary
• Sightseeing in the heart of Rethymno’s inland
• Tasting notebook
• Our Warmest hospitality

The tour’s first stop is the historic winery of the Monastery of Tzagarolon, this beautiful monastery is set in the picturesque Akrotiri peninsula of Chania. The temple features admirable Byzantine architecture, a folklore museum and an ancient library of rarities. We’ll be sampling select wines from the monastery’s production while we admire and learn about the wine equipment of the past on display, small ‘kerasma’ meze offering is accompanying the tasting. From there we’ll head to the Dourakis Winery in Apokoronas to learn about viticulture and the winemaking process as we taste their wine. Our next visit is to a well hidden old style kafeneio, and just across from our last ‘sacred’ stop to meet the key holder of a ‘treasured’ chapel and explore the chapel as well. Yamas!

Included in this tour

• Visit two wineries
• Visit one vineyard
• 12 wines to taste
• Meze style Lunch in a traditional Kafeneio
• Return transfers to and from pick up point
• Complimentary refreshments in the car
• Professional commentary
• Sightseeing in the heart of Chania’s inland
• Tasting notebook
• Our warmest hospitality

This inspiring tour combines the art of weaving, fashion and wine. We visit Alexandra, a fashion designer at her atelier where we can enjoy and taste wine and learn the history and art of weaving. The guided wine tasting includes Cretan meze in Alexandra’s beautiful garden with a beautiful view. A weaving session where you make your own souvenir garment is included.

Included in this tour

• Visit the home and atelier of a famous local fashion designer
• Five wines to be tasted
• Food and wine pairing (Cretan meze)
• Return transfers to and from pick up point
• Complimentary refreshments during transport
• Professional commentary
• Weaving session (if desired)
• Tasting notebook
• Our Warmest hospitality

Delve deeper into wine discovery, if you are a wine lover, enthusiast or expert, then this is your tour! Tim Jackson MW will guide you through the vineyards and wineries of Santorini and Crete. The 7-day trip is packed full with master-classes, wine tastings, learning, gastronomy and exploration.

Program:

1 – 7 September 2019

Day 1

• Welcome to Santorini,
• Pick up from the airport and transfer to a 5-star hotel (located in walking distance of caldera views),
• That evening we view the world famous Santorini sunset as we have a wine masterclass and dinner on a luxury catamaran.

Day 2

• Breakfast,
• Marathon wine tasting to 4 wineries,
• Wine masterclass and farm-to-table lunch,
• Free night to explore the town.

Day 3

• Breakfast,
• Visit the ancient city of Akrotiri escorted by a professional guide,
• We then take a sea kayak excursion to see Santorini from views that few have done,
• Wine tasting and farm-to-table lunch,
• Departure to Crete (1st class tickets),
• Check-in to a 5-star hotel in Heraklion,
• Free night to explore Heraklion’s city centre (walking distance from your hotel).

Day 4

• Breakfast
• We start by exploring Heraklion’s wine region by visiting and tasting 3 wineries,
• Wine masterclass and Cretan lunch in a local Taverna,
• Later the same evening, wine masterclass paired with an organic dinner made from old and ancient recipes.

Day 5

• Breakfast and check out from the hotel in Heraklion,
• Guided tour of the famous Palace of Knossos.
• On the way to Chania, we explore the Venetian old town of Rethymno,
• Wine masterclass and Mezzeh lunch,
• Check into a 5-star hotel in Chania,
• Free night to explore the beautiful harbour town of Chania.

Day 6

• Breakfast,
• Escape to Chania’s wine region by visiting a winery and it’s vineyards accompanied by a wine tasting,
• Meet a famous Greek ceramist in his studio, where we will also have a wine masterclass paired with a traditional lunch prepared by a Cretan mama,
• Later that evening we have our goodbye wine tasting and gourmet dinner at the port of the old town on Chania.

Day 7

• Farewell breakfast.
• Transfer to the airport.

Crete Wine Escapes celebrates the historic relationship between Lebanon and Crete by recreating the ancient Phoenician trading route that gave the gift of wine to the world. It is an excursion that will combine archeology, history, local cuisine and the finest wines from two vibrant Mediterranean cultures, defined by a common climate, landscape and proud culinary tradition; a shared generosity of spirit and of course a profound and deep-rooted relationship with the vine.

‍Full Itinerary

‍October 21, 2019

• Welcome to  Chania (recommended arrival time up to 17:00).
• Check in Hotel (5 stars or equivalent quality).
• 18:00 Wine Talks – Gathering with wine, getting to know each other and briefing for the tour.
• 19:00 Wine Strolling in Chania’s old town’s Venetian alleyways – Tasting on the go.
• 20:30 The Wine strolling ends in one of the best restaurants in the old port of Chania – Dinner and indigenous varieties tasting.

October 22, 2019

• Breakfast.
• Check Out.
• 10:15 – The Wine Escape starts.
• Visit the Byzantine Monastery of Tzagarolon and the boutique Dourakis Wineries  – Explore Chania’s eastern wine region, taste wines and olive oil.
• Visit a famous ceramist – lunch and wine tasting at his place. Farm to table lunch prepared on the spot by a local mama.
• Drive to Heraklion.
• Check in Hotel (5 stars or equivalent quality).
• Free night in Heraklion.

October 23, 2019

• Breakfast.
• 10:15 the Wine Escape starts.
• Visit the biodynamic Silva and family run Diamantakis Wineries  in the heart of Heraklion’s Wine Region Dafnes where we explore the wine history of Crete.
• Farm to Table lunch and Wine Tasting overlooking Mount Ida.
• Rest and late check out.
• 22:20 Fly to Beirut connected flight through Athens.
• 2:20 Welcome to Lebanon.
• 4:00 Check in to the hotel in Jounieh (5 stars hotel or equivalent quality).

October 24, 2019

• Breakfast .
• Check Out.
• 12:00 the Wine Escape starts.
• Visit Chateau Musar in Ghazir and then on to the Northern wine region of Batroun tasting at the Ixsir winery.
• Traditional mezze and tasting.
• Drive to Zahle.
• Check in Hotel (5 stars or equivalent quality).
• Resting night.

October 25, 2019

• 9:30 Coffee at the hotel.
• 10:15 The wine Escape starts with Breakfast and tasting at Chateau Marsyas – Visit and tasting of Chateau Kefraya.
• Farm to table lunch overlooking the Bekaa Valley and the Anti Lebanon Range.
• Late afternoon tasting at Domaine des Tourelles in Chtoura.
• Resting Night.

‍October 26, 2019

• 9:30 Breakfast.
• 10:30 The wine Escape starts.
• Visit Chateau Ksara and tasting.
• Drive to the Roman ruins – visit the temple of Bacchus in Baalbek.
• Lunch in a historic restaurant in Lebanon.
• Tasting at Chateau Khoury.
• Drive to Beirut.
• Free evening.

‍October 27, 2019

• 10:00 Breakfast.
• 11:30 The wine Escape starts.
• Walking tour of Beirut.
• Wine tasting in a wine boutique.
• Lunch.
• Rest in Hotel.

October 28, 2019

• Early Flight back to Heraklion.

This experience transforms you to a winemaker! Is your dream to make your own wine? Whether it’s for a wedding, or your corporate entity, we can arrange it for you. We start early in the morning and visit a winery in Heraklion where you can make your own blend of wines of white and/or red. Our sommelier along with an enologist will assist you in making your own blend. Be a winemaker for the day and enjoy your own wine made under your own label, shipped to your country of residence. Inquire today and let’s start blending!

The Sky is the limit in this tour, do you want to sample wines while flying over the vineyards of Crete? Would you like to be on a hidden beach or a remote island for a romantic food and wine pairing? Are you interested in organic, biodynamic or natural wines? Or perhaps, you just want to discover the similarities and differences of wines that you are already familiar with. We can make it happen! Please contact us for your fully customized experience in Crete, or somewhere else… Just remember to always shoot for the moon!

Fancy your own private chef and sommelier experience? Then let us arrange a full wine tasting and food pairing at your villa, we can design the menu according to your food and wine profile to suit your specific needs. This package ranges from a romantic food and wine pairing for two up-to a full party, get in touch with us and we will arrange an unforgettable experience for you, your family and friends.

Can be Included in this tour

• Private chef cooking at your villa
• Guided wine tasting with your lunch or dinner
• Private sommelier to answer all your questions
• Ability to customise the experience to your taste
• Baby sitting services available
• Our warmest hospitality