Private Vine Harvest Excursion, Chania
Get ready to step on some grapes, explore a thousand years old traditions and taste some truly local flavors and wines.
Overview
Highlights
- Harvest vine in a family vineyard
- Take part in the wine-making process
- Sample local wine and cheese
- Have a freshly made dinner along with good Cretan wine
- Enjoy the fantastic view of the Aegean Sea and the mountain around
Know before you go
8 hours
All ages
Private
Lunch Included
What you'll do
Your driver will pick you up from your hotel and drive you to the vineyard. The local family will welcome you on your arrival and give you a quick tour of the place. Then off you go, with a bucket and a pair of pruning shears to harvest the unique varieties of grapes found in Crete, such as romeiko, vidiano, vilana, kotsifali, and mantilari. As you work, locals will be singing and dancing to traditional Cretan songs—a grand celebration!
Afterward, you'll visit a 19th-century Cretan home and its unique rooms, each representing different eras of Crete's history. You'll gain an insightful look into this amazing island's culture and traditions. Continue to the wine cellars, and you'll see the grapes you've picked are ready for the second step of the wine-making process. Step on the grapes with your feet in the old cellar and observe as the first juice appears. After a long smashing procedure, watch as the grapes soak in the juice and take on either a rose or mid-red color.
After a full day of working, you will be treated to a traditional Cretan dinner filled with local delicacies and plenty of wine. It's a great way to end the day after all your hard work—cheers!
Start times
-
Daily9:00 am
What's included
- English-speaking local driver
- Local cook
- Wine and food tasting
- Commemorative gifts
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Private Crete Vineyard Visits with Wine Tastings & Lunch
Explore the Wineries of Chania
Private Tasting & History Walk
Vineyard Visit with Wine, Olive Oil, Honey Tastings
We start the day learning everything we need to know about olive oil. Over 50% of the island of Crete is covered with olive trees. It is the most important product here both for our economy and our cuisine. At Melissakis Olive Oil Mill, we will learn how olive oil is made in the modern method. We will also learn the varying methods of production and quality levels. Have you ever wondered what Extra Virgin Olive Oil means? You’ll find out! In their tasting area, we’ll get a chance to sample different oils and other Cretan products.
Next to Dourakis Winery for a wine tasting. This family-owned winery excels at local indigenous grape varieties. Chania Wine Tours has a private seating area at the winery. We will show you how to properly taste each wine using all of our senses. We’ll guide you through a tasting of each of the 5 wines under the shade of their pergola. Wines are available for purchase.
Next, we welcome you to our village home up in the mountains. Since we moved to Crete in 2013, Vasili has been revitalizing his grandfather’s vineyards and working the land. In 2017, he also started beekeeping. This year, we built a wine-tasting area among the vines to welcome our guests.
Trek up to the bees in your protective suits. Vasili will need your help opening up the bee boxes and finding the queen. He’ll explain the bee-keeping and honey-making process.
Next have a seat in the vineyards for wine tasting and lunch. From our vineyards, all you see is mountains, sky, and trees. All you hear is the birds chirping and sheep baaing. It’s an escape from it all.
In the vineyards, you’ll taste the wine that those vines produced. Vasili has been experimenting with different blends and different wine styles, he’ll explain the process behind each.
Finally, you’ll lend a hand to create the lunch spread of local Cretan products and traditional foods. Everyone will get a task from either chopping up vegetables, filling up wine from the barrels, or retrieving honey.
Before you go, fill up a bottle of wine from the barrels, cork it yourself, and take it home as a gift from us to you.
Private Excursion to White Mountains with Wine and Olive Oil Tastings
Private 7 Villages Of Apokoronas Excursion
White Mountains Excursion Wine and Olive Oil Tastings
Cretan Olive Press and Vineyards Excursion
Cooking Class in a Village Near Chania
Private Traditional Cretan Cooking Class in the Mountains
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