WINE ROUTES TO EXPLORE

ITINERARY

Itinerary

Day 1:Arrive to Athens international airport. Meet your assistant to the arrival hall holding a sign with your group’s name. Embark to the bus & head to Athens centre. Settle down to your hotel & relax! The tour is about to begin!!! Early in the afternoon, meet your specialized guide to the reception of your hotel & start your walking tour to Acropolis. Hotel chosen is ideally located very close to Acropolis & Athens old city of Plaka! Enjoy a guided tour to the Acropolis museum & Plaka & at the end of the tour, enjoy your dinner to a restaurant on the foot of Acropolis. Somelier will be happy to suggest the perfect Greek wine for this dinner & this way, you will find your way during Greek wine tradition!

Day 2: Breakfast at the hotel & meet your assistant to the reception. Today our day is devoted to Attica region & 2 of its wineries. The Mesogaia valley, a mere 30km from downtown Athens, is covered with over 650 hectares of vines. The Mesogaia vineyard, defined by Mount Pendeli to the north and Hymettus to the south, has been the capital’s purveyor of inexpensive, everyday wine for centuries. Even if Mesogaia is the mother of Retsina Greek wine, over the past 30 years, there have been so many successful experimental vinifications of the Savatiano, that it is now considered one of the most interesting grapes Greece has to offer. It is still the number one crop in the prefecture of East Attica, which is also famous for its royal figs and high-quality pistachios. During this tour we will visit 2 of the most important wineries to East Attica, and we will be guided to the vineyards & the wine production procedure. To the 2nd winery we will have lunch with a great wine. Early Afternoon return to the hotel, overnight. .

Day 3: Breakfast at the hotel & meet your assistant. Embark to the bus & head to Evia Island. Evia is the largest island of Greece after Crete, connected to mainland Greece with the 2nd biggest bridge in Greece. The topography is complex, with hills and mountains alternating with low fields and plains. Τhe warmest part is at the centre of the island, around the capital Chalkis (Halkida). Grape varieties are more or less the same as those of the Cyclades and the rest of the Greek mainland. We will visit the famous Avantis Estate where we will be guided by the owners to the extended vineyards where the world known Syrrah is being produced! We will enjoy a wine tasting on spot. After the tour, head to Chalkis city, the capital city of Evia, where we will enjoy a short walk to the promenade. After that visit the restaurant where we will have cooking class & then late lunch including a great wine selection from Evia Island. Late afternoon return to the hotel..

Day 4: Breakfast at the hotel & meet your assistant. Embark to the bus & head to Nemea. Nemea is located conveniently close to Athens. It takes about 1.5 hours to get here by car from Athens, crossing the Corinth canal along the way. Nemea is home to the Agiorgitiko (aye-or-GHEE-tee-ko) grape and, just as Naoussa in the north is synonymous with Xinomavro. The origins of the Agiorgitiko variety are mysterious. It is generally believed to come from this area but the genetics are uncertain. Agiorgitiko wine can qualify for the Nemea Protected Designation of Origin if it is made from 100% Agriorgitiko grapes. Some vineyards are located at altitudes higher than 900m and this creates a wide diversity in wine expression. It also provides suitable vineyard land for a very wide range of wine varieties and some wineries are producing truly exceptional wines from varieties such as Viognier, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Greek varieties such as Mavroudi, Malagouzia, Moschofilero, Roditis and Assyrtiko. During our tour we will have a guided tour to the city & then explore one famous Nemea winery and will have wine tasting. Then lunch & explore the city of Nafplio which was the 1st capital of Greece. Free time for coffee, tea & dessert. Late afternoon return to Athens..

Day 5:Breakfast at the hotel & check out. Transfer to the airport to fly back home..