Explore & Savour the Fine Wines of Crete - After enjoying many wonderful wine varieties throughout Greece we scheduled this tour while in Crete and this personalized adventure helped to expand our knowledge and appreciation for Greek wines. Our guide and Sommelier "Areti" was very informative and took us to two different wineries in center of Crete where we sampled several varieties and food pairings both generous and delicious that we would likely never have experienced anywhere else. The day was relaxed and never rushed and included a few stops to enjoy some of the local ancient history related to wine making and other points of interest and flora along the way. We understand there are other routes and wineries to enjoy and hope to see some more in 2024!

Great day wine tasting in Crete with our 11 month old son! - We had a wonderful day with Areti on our tour. We were travelling with our 11month old son and both Areti and the two vineyards were so accommodating of him and made sure he was looked after as well as both parents. Areti was friendly and very knowledgeable about all the wines we tried. Food was delicious and the day went so smoothly. Would 100%recommend and we were delighted to hear we were the first tour of the year. Thanks again!

Amazing Private Wine Tour - Areti was absolutely wonderful!!! She was so knowledgeable, kind and it felt like we were touring the island with a close friend. The wineries were stunning and the wine was of the highest quality. Each tasting was curated for us and we loved each and every wine we tasted. We were honored to take tours of the cellar areas and where they held the barrels and were blown away by their faacilities. The tastings were the perfect pace to taste, savor, learn and enjoy and we had Cretan cheese, verju, and dinner!! I loved the restaurant and felt like a family friend as if we frequented the restaurant many times before. The weather was perfect- cool but sunny and clear and peaceful all around. I would absolutely do this tour 10 times over and recommend it to all my friends and family!

Sublime experience, would absolutely go again. - We had the most amazing time with Areti for my 30th birthday. She is so knowledgeable about Crete, the wines and history of the vineyards we visited. She made us feel extremely comfortable in asking questions and learning about what we were tasting. We spent half a day with Areti and it went by so so fast. I can’t thank her enough I felt absolutely spoilt on this wine tour. Everything was so perfect, the wines, the food and the service at both vineyards. Thank you so much Areti!

Smashed our expecations; over and above. - My partner and I had a PHENOMENAL time with Areti. What a tour, we expected it to be amazing but somehow it surpassed even those expectations: good music, good conversation, great wines, and additional amenities. And the history in between stops, wow. We loved every moment. We had a wonderful week in Crete but this was our highlight.

Perfect day experiencing Cretan wine and food - This was the best activity we did in Heraklion! The wine, food, and atmosphere are perfect and Areti is the best guide. Areti was also able to accommodate our dietary restrictions on short notice which was much appreciated. I can’t say enough good things about this experience; if you’re considering booking it— do it! It was worth every penny. Thank you, Areti!

Authentic experience not to be missed - I must admit that when we booked this tour , I was a little apprehensive about spending such an extended period of one on one time with a stranger …but as it turned out , we had more in common Areti than good wine and good food . She was such an authentic person . Easy to talk to and easy to spend time with . We learnt about Crete and Cretan wines . Her choice of wine farms and food pairing was outstanding. It was a memorable experience and if you like wine and nice people , I would highly recommend this excursion.

One of the best tours we have ever had - Areti is a fabulous guide with a great knowledge of Wine and she was also great fun to be with. We tasted some of the best Wines ever on her tour. Highly recommended.

Indulgent, Inspiring, Intoxicating - 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

Amazing experience - This is a must do when in Crete. Areti guided us through her country, culture, incredible wines and amazing Greek food! Well worth the price of the tour.