Crete

Lyrarakis Winery is a family business that has been making wine since 1966. It is located in the Peza wine-making zone, one of the most important of Crete. Their vineyard of 35 acres lies at an altitude of around 550 m. The winery specializes in rare local varieties of wine, like the ancient Dafni and Plyto. Other varieties they produce are Vilana, Moshato White and French Sauvignon blanc. As for red varieties, the local Kotsifali, Madilari and Moshato are combined with international varieties such as Syrah, Merlot,and Cabernet Sauvignon. To learn more, you can have a guided tour of the vineyards, cellar and vine museum, and then take part in a wine tasting.

Boutari is a family business that has been making wine for five generations, starting from 1879. The company runs seven wineries, one of which is located in Crete, more precisely in the Skalani area, 8 km from Heraklion and 4 km from Knossos. On the vineyard, located at an altitude of 200 m, they cultivate both red (Kotsifali, Mandilari, Syrah) and white varieties (Chardonnay, Malvasia Aromatica, Vilana and Muscat Spina). They organise informative tours and wine tastings all year round.

Nominated "Greek winery of the year" by Luxury Travel Guide in 2018, Dourakis Winery is located in the fertile region of the east foothills of the White Mountains. Its vineyards are in the area of Alikambos, at an altitude of more than 330 m. Together with other regional wine-makers, they produces organic wines. Here you can taste red, white, rosé, and sweet wines from international varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenage Rouge, as well as local varieties such as Malvazia, Kotsifali and Romeiko. Note that tours and tastings need to be pre-booked.

The Manousakis vineyards are located at an altitude between 320 and 600 metres, in the foothills of the White Mountains. The wines cultivated here — red, rosé and white — are organic and they belong to both local and international varieties. Some varieties they cultivate are the red Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre and white Roussane. You can book tours of the winery and the vineyard, as well as wine tastings and entire meals at their restaurant.

Since the 1930s, the Douloufakis family has been producing both local and international varieties of wine. Located in the Dafnes wine region, the vineyards cover 20 hectares and are situated at an altitude of 350 metres. Farmers from the nearby area supply additional quality grapes to the winery. The most characteristic grapes produced are the Cretan Liatiko and Vidiano. Other varieties they produce here are Malvasia, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Kotsifali and Syrah. To learn more about the varieties and the wine-making process, guided tours and wine tastings are available for booking. Scheduled tours of the vineyards also take place every day at 10 am, noon and 2 pm.