Wine tour of Greece. A cruise to the Greek Islands.

Wine tour of Greece. With this tour you will discover the magic of Greek wines.

This wine tour of Greece will take you to some of the finest wineries the country has to offer. During the recent years Greek winemaking has entered the new “Greek Wine Renaissance”, as the new generation of winemakers was educated by some of the best schools around the world. This resulted in Greek wines receiving the highest awards in a number of international competitions.

With 6,500 years of tradition one could hardly imagine a country where wine making has developed more traditions than Greece. The ancient Greek civilization even had a god of wine Dionysus and his worship had spread throughout the Mediterranean.

Hippocrates used wine for medicinal purposes and readily prescribed it. Greek wines and their varieties were well known and traded throughout the Mediterranean.

The Ancient Greeks introduced vines such as Vitis vinifera and made wine in their numerous colonies in Italy, Sicily, southern France, and Spain.

In the Mycenaean period, wine took on greater cultural, religious and economic importance.

Wine was almost always diluted, usually with water (or snow when the wine was to be served cold). The Greeks believed that only barbarians drank unmixed or undiluted wine.

(Source and more info about Greek wine on wikipedia) The Greek modern wine technology is proud of enormous improvement.

Greek wines receive the highest awards around the world. More than 300 indigenous grape varieties grown in Greece, make the Greek wine unique!

Let us guide you to three very special Tours, through wine and cultural monuments and tasteful experiences.

View Detailed Itinerary

Wine Tour of Greece

DAY 1. Athens

Transfer from Athens international airport to Hotel Herodion. Welcome dinner in Plaka and overnight.

DAY 2. Athens

Morning sightseeing of the city of Athens, you may visit the Akropolis,the Parthenon, the Stadium and the New Akropolis Museum. Early in the afternoon we visit, long the south sea coast, the Strofilia winery in Anavissos, finding out about the wine making process and tasting session. Than we proceed and visit in the village of Pallini the Wine Museum. Return in the hotel. Overnight.

DAY 3. Athens – Cape Sounion – Lavrion

Transfer from your Athens Hotel at 12.00 and drive to the port of Lavrion – . Yacht embarkation at 13: 000 at Lavrio/CapeSounion. Welcome drink. Departure at 15:00. Swimming stop. Dinner onboard. Arrival at Sifnos.

DAY 4. Ios

Breakfast & early sail to Ios. On the way swimming stop & lunch onboard. Arrival at Ios (the island of Homer) at about 18:30. Overnight.

DAY 5. Santorini

Breakfast at 9:00. Departure for Santorini, one of the highlights of the cruise. Swimming stop. Proceed the Fira port at 13:00. Take the cable car to the town of Fira.

Start the wine tour, visiting winerie, the Wine Museum and the island. From the Cyclades islands Santorini has the primacy of wine tourism. The volcano has created a sensational scenery and a unique ecosystem in which the vineyards of Santorini has adapted in the best possible way.

The vineyard soils of the region are composed of volcanic ash and rocks of solidified lava. That’s the reason of the unique character of Santorini wines.Viticulture in the island has a history of 3500 years.

The most important cultivated variety is the Asyrtiko, high alcohol content,wine with character.Dinner and overnight. The island is a minefield of archaeological interest featuring ancient Thira and Akrotiri with remains of its Minoan town and is renowne for its unique views and colourful sunsets. Overnight.

DAY 6. Santorini – Antiparos – Paros

In the morning we continue our wine tour of Greece and set sail to Paros, one of the most beautiful island of the Cyclades. Swimming stop at Antiparos. Lunch. Arrival at 18:30 to Paros (Paroikia or Naousa).

Paros has in recent years developed into a modern tourist centre and is one of the few Cycladic islands filled with gently undulating hills which contain the famous Parian marble – the marble with which the Acropolis was built.

The picturesque approach to the island is via the town of Parikia, the main port and capital of the island, built on the site of the ancient city. A ruined Venetian castle situated in the present market place, adds to the colour of Parikia, with its narrow cobble-paved streets, white-washed houses decorated with pots of colourful geraniums and fragrant basil.

One of the most impressive and respected shrines of Byzantine architecture can be found in the form of the Holy Church of Ekatondapiliani, or roughly translated means the ‘church of 100 doors’’.

DAY 7. Paros – Naxos

In the morning after breakfast we visit the Moraiti winery near Naoussa, we visit the vineyards,take a tour around the production areas,see old objects of the wine making art and machinery used in the past.

Finally visit the cellar where the famous red wines are still aged and taste them.

Sail for Naxos. Swimming stop & lunch. Arrival at Naxos Port. According to Greek mythology, the god of wine and entertainment Dionysus, was born in Naxos and it was him who planted the first grapevine in Naxos. The island is known for the citrus liqueur and the cultivation of the citron tree in Naxos has a long tradition. We visit a winery-distillery out of town, we will learn the secrets of distillation and taste citrus liqueur and wine. We continue our visit the island. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 8. Naxos – Mykonos

Sail after breakfast for Myconos – the most cosmopolitan island with dazzing white houses, excellent shopping & entertainments. Enjoy spectacular sunset & Greek dancing. Swimming stop & lunch. Proceding Myconos Marina at 18:30 Overnight.

Allthough barren and full of windmills, Mykonos is one of the most cosmopolitan of the Greek islands, attracting world renowned socialites, intellectuals and artists.

From its harbor, full of small fishing boats bobbing side-by-side with luxurious yachts, one can walk through narrow white-washed alleys, see dazzling white cubed-shaped houses with brightly painted wooden doors and windows, plus a myriad of tiny blue-domed churches.

Famous for its zany nightlife, Mykonos has also much to offer those searching for the cultural history of the island. The church of PARAPORTIANI is considered to be an architectural masterpiece.

The archaeological museum exhibits some very interesting finds, most of which were excavated from the “necropolis” or dead city on the little island of RHENEIA.

DAY 9. Mykonos – Delos – Tinos

Departure after breakfast to Delos – the sacred island of Apollo. Delos, the mythical birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. On a guided tour, you’ll visit the archaeological ruins of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, unearthed here in the 19th century.

Delos is a true open-air museum with many ancient monuments and buildings that are remarkably intact. Except the guards and the guides the island is not inhabited. Swim & lunch.

Proceed to Tinos –the Holy Island. Visit.Overnight. This island known as the island of the “Virgin Mary”, is unique for its 800 odd dovecotes artistically designed and built, and scattered over the entire island. Every year on the 15th August thousands of pilgrims from all over Greece gather to honour the Virgin Mary and Her icon which is said to have miraculous properties. However Tinos also has a tradition of being the home of many sculptors and craftsmen. A fine arts school operating on the island is well worth a visit for those interested in fine works of art.

DAY 10. Tinos – Lavrion

Early sail to Lavrion. Breakfast. Disembarkation around 10.00. Transfer back to Athens at Hotel Herodion. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight.

DAY 11. Athens – Nemea- Epidaurus

After breakfast depart for a full day excursion to the Peloponeese and visit at Nemea the Domaine Helios,the vineyards and the winery with a specialized guide and enjoy the taste of local wines served with cheese and snacks. Visit the Theatre of Epidaurus and Mycenae.

The Theatre of Epidaurus has a capacity of 12000 spectators and is known for its exceptional acoustics.Mycenae, the kingdom of mythical Agamemnon is the most important centre of the Late Bronze Age. On the way back we stop and visit Korinth with its spectacular canal and ancient Corinth, where Apostole Paul preached. Lunch en route. We proceed for our return in Athens. Farewell dinner in Plaka and overnight at Hotel Herodion.

12 DAY. Athens

Morning transfer to Athens International Airport. End of Wine Tour of Greece.

Wine tour of Greece. Cruise & Land.

Itinerary

View Detailed Itinerary

Pictures

Information

Departures:

Included:

Price:

Not-Included:

Remarks:

Booking Request – Contact us