Heraklion Private Gastronomy Diaries-ervaring van een halve dag in Lyrarakis Winery

We had the most wonderful day visiting Lyrarakis Winery. Kallia, our guide and sommelier is not only warm and friendly, but she is also very knowledgeable. She told us so many interesting stories about Crete, and of course the vineyards and wines. The wine tasting under an olive tree overlooking the vineyards and mountains was stunning. We were treated to generous servings of delicious wines, paired with very very good traditional Cretan food. Everything was just perfect. We organised the trip through our hotel. It was quite expensive, but actually it was such a lovely experience that felt very authentic and personal, so I do think it was worth it. I’d recommend anyone with an interest in food, wine, culture, history and geography to book.

We had an amazing time. Kallia was knowledgeable and fun. The food was outstanding. We will never forget this experience and highly recommend it.

Every time someone asks my husband and I what the best part of our honeymoon was, we say this tour! Kallia took us on the most educational olive oil and wine tour we have ever been on. On the drive from the hotel she told us about local customs and the history of the island, as well as what makes Cretan wine so unique. The Olive Oil tasting was fabulous. We had never done one before, and I couldn't believe how many flavor profiles the oils could have. The wines were wonderful, and the food to die for. It truly was our best day out on Crete, and an experience we would do again, or recommend to anyone.

This experience was absolutely beyond our expectations! We were picked up at our hotel by Kallia who besides her knowledge about olive oil and wine also knew a lot of nice things about the history of Crete during the car ride. After about an hour of driving we arrived at Lyrarakis Winery where we could first enjoy the great view and a refreshing non-alcoholic drink before being shown around by Kiki. The vineyard is beautiful and we have gained a lot of fun knowledge. At the end of the tour we were escorted to a great big old olive tree where Kallia had beautifully dressed the table and around it and we could do the olive oil and wine tasting. We have gained so much interesting knowledge! Then had a delicious lunch with our favorite wines and of course a few bottles brought. Kallia thank you very much for this special experience!

A fabulous and extraordinary experience with the most perfect hosts. A must do when your visiting Crete. Kallia took us through the history of Crete on the drive over to the beautiful vineyard and answered everyone of our many questions about wine. At the vineyard which was around 45 minutes from our hotel, we were welcomed with a lovely non-alcoholic drink and we waited just a short time for our guide to show us around the vineyard. Kiki took us around and explained the different indigenous grapes that they had there along with how long it took for them to ripen and be ready for pruning. Once the tour was done we were taken to a beautiful olive tree that was sheltered from the sun with amazing views across the vines and of the mountains and this is where we sat for the remainder of the excursion. Kallia took us through the tasting of olive oils and also wines with pairing of different Cretan cheeses. Once the tasting had finished we were given various foods such as beef & potatoes, Greek omelettes and bruschetta then left alone to enjoy the scenery, wines and food which was an extraordinary experience for us. Finally we were shown around the cellars in which they keep various wines of all different ages and barrels of maturing wines. Great experience all around. Highly recommend!

Super knowledgeable and really enjoyed getting to know about the wines produced in Crete. Beautiful scenery on the way to the Vinyard and an amazing picnic lunch

Amazing food, Excellent and knowledgeable host, Unique experience. Greatly recommended for special tourists who search for more experiences.

I cannot sufficiently express how special and unique this experience was. When you realize how many people in the community come together to showcase these handcrafted premium wines, cheeses, olive oil, and authentic Cretan dishes, you cannot help but appreciate and have immense gratitude for all that goes in to making this a very memorable experience. It is also very reflective of the tight and supportive Cretan community. Rami, Eva, and all those behind the scenes are passionate, talented artisans who willingly share their knowledge of their craft and Cretan culture and history. This was hands-down, one our best travel experiences ever. It completely exceeded expectations and the value is incredible. You will not be disappointed and if you allow it, this experience will fill your heart and touch your soul, as it did for me. As if the day was not special enough, Rami and Eva went above and beyond with additional special touches to celebrate my birthday. Please do not hesitate to book with them--highly recommended!!