6 Amazing Wineries in Crete for Authentic Greek Wine Lovers

Cretan wines are going through a rebirth. A new generation of winemakers driven by passion and commitment to quality are leading this renaissance. 

Sustainability, and a celebration of indigenous Cretan grape varieties, are at the heart of this transformation.

Before visiting the Greek island of Crete, Cretan wines were a mystery to us. While exploring the island’s local food specialties, we made it a point to meet several Crete winemakers.

At each winery visit, we learned about the 11 distinctive Cretan local grape varieties. 

We discovered and fell in love with Vidiano, a local white wine and different expressions of Romeiko wine, one of the oldest grape varietals.

Crete is an important and up-and-coming wine region in Greece and visiting a winery should be on every visitor’s itinerary.

To help guide your Crete winery tour, here are our top 6 pioneering wineries in Crete not to miss. 

Top Wineries To Visit in Crete

1. Manousakis Winery

From a father’s dream to now one of the most important Crete wineries, visiting Manousakis Winery should be on your itinerary.

Guiding us on our visit was Afshin Molavi, co-winery owner with his wife, Alexandra Manousakis.

As we toured the winery, Afshin regaled us with stories about the founding of the winery by Alexandra’s dad, Theodore (Ted) Manousakis in 1993.

What impressed us most was the vision and growth trajectory that Alexandra and Afshin brought to the winery.

Together, they grew from producing 35,000 bottles per year to more than 150,000 bottles per year.

The focus is on organic wines. As Afshin told us, “we don’t interfere with nature, we work to help nature.” 

The environment is at the heart of wine production at Manousakis winery. From hand picking the grapes, to planting legumes to inject nitrogen into the soils, working to support nature was evident.

Wine Tasting At Manousakis Winery Crete

The setting for a wine tasting at Manousakis Winery could not be more serene. Surrounded by citrus trees, the tasting terrace offers a panoramic view of the Cretan landscape and mountains.

To start, Afshin offered us the winery’s signature white wine made from the local Romeiko grapes. Romeiko is a unique local variety that only grows in the Chania region. 

Other Romeiko wines we had previously tried at local restaurants had an odd pale orange color and off-putting taste.

The white Romeiko from Manousakis Winery was worlds apart. Light, and refreshing with citrusy aromas, we sipped it easily over light Cretan appetizers.

Amongst the red wines from Manousakis, we enjoyed a Rosé, Grenache, and a Red Nostos blend.  

The red wines were not overly heavy, and perfectly local dishes like tsigariasto or slow-cooked lamb with olive oil.

Manousakis winery offers tastings by appointment from May to November You can enjoy their Terroir Tasting of 5 wines accompanied with starters for €15 euros. Meals and a full wine list are also available.

AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST TIP:  In addition to the wine tasting at Manousakis Winery, you can enjoy an off-road tour at sunset. This 4.5-hour off-road tour with wine tasting at Manousakis Winery, takes you through several traditional Cretan villages in an off-road vehicle, before ending at the winery for a tasting with local food specialties.

2. Dourakis Winery

Antonis Dourakis, a second-generation winemaker was our guide during our visit to Dourakis winery. His father, Andreas Dourakis, created the winery and its first production was in 1988.

This boutique winery in Alikampos Village is about 40 minutes away from Chania.

Antonis, now in charge of winemaking, talked about his vision for creating the best-quality wines from indigenous grape varieties.

All Dourakis wines made from their vineyards are organic. About 200,000 to 250,000 bottles of wine are produced at the winery each year.

Antonis enthusiasm and passion were contagious as he shared the story behind the Dourakis wine label “Kudos.”

The word, we learned, comes from the ancient Greece word κῦδος [keedo], which was the word for magical glory. 

During our tasting, it was wonderful to taste the flavors and meaning of “Kudos” unfold in the wines.

Wine Tasting At Dourakis Winery Crete

We tasted six different Cretan wines with Antonis. Starting with white wines, we moved to rosé, reds and ended with an exceptional sweet wine made from the local Romeiko grapes.

The setting could not have been more idyllic. Seated underneath a tree in the outdoor patio of the winery, we enjoyed the views and unseasonably warm February temperatures.

One of our most surprising discoveries was the multiple expressions of the Romeiko grape variety. Antonis aptly described Romeiko “like a guy with a 1000 faces.” 

This grape, endemic to Chania, comes in multiple colors, green, red, and pink, yielding wines of different profiles and tastes.

One of our other favorite Dourakis wines was a white Malvasia Aromatica wine with aromatic and citrus notes.  

Other wines we enjoyed were Vidiano, an intriguing sweet wine, and a surprising Euphoria Romeiko sweet wine.

Dourakis winery offers a signature tasting wine of five wines with starters for €15 euros.

AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST TIP: If your travels through Greece take you to Santorini, consider exploring the local wines. Use our guide to the Top 7 Santorini Wineries Not To Miss

3. Loupakis Winery

Getting to Loupakis Winery was an adventure. As we drove through the winding and hilly roads, the winery suddenly appeared, isolated on a hill amongst the vineyards.

Upon our arrival, Miltiadis, winemaker and co-owner of Loupakis Winery, welcomed us warmly. We started our visit by touring the vineyard and taking in the stunning Cretan landscape from the mountains to the sea.

Militiadis is the third-generation owner and winemaker at Loupakis. The family vineyard survived the phylloxera outbreak that destroyed most of the vineyard in Crete in the 1970s. 

A small boutique winery, Loupakis Winery focuses on native grapes like the Kotsifali and Vilana varieties.

RELATED: 17 Unforgettable Things to Do in Chania, Crete for Lasting Memories

Wine Tasting At Loupakis Winery

As we entered the tasting room, we were charmed by its incredible quaint setting and Miltiadis’s artistic touch. 

A large wood table decorated with wines, candlelights, flowers, fruits and was laid out before us. 

With soft music playing in the background, Miltiadis offered a tasting of several wines, including Kotsifali, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Vilana.

We really enjoyed the Vilana white wine, a bestseller at Loupakis Winery. Its light, refreshing profile and floral and citrus aromas paired perfectly with Cretan meze.

Claire’s favorite wine was the Kotsifali, a single variety Cretan wine, with intense and spicy aromas. 

As a huge red wine fan, I relished the Loupakis Cabernet Sauvignon wine.

Loupakis Winery offers wine tasting and tours year-round. The experience is personable and authentic, and is likely to be a wine tasting and tour you will not forget. 

To book a tour, contact them in advance directly on their Facebook page.

4. Karavitakis Winery

Demanding of oneself and driven to perfection is how we would describe Nikos Karavitakis.  A third-generation winemaker, he is eagerly putting his own mark on an already successful Cretan winery.

The winery, Nikos told us, while showing us around, was started by his grandfather. This was about 90 years ago, making it one of the oldest wineries in Crete.

His father studied winemaking in Italy and, upon his return, introduced Italian varieties. 

Now, with Nikos in charge, Karavitakis Winery is going through another evolution. 

Everything has shifted now, Nikos told us. “We went from making 80% international wine varieties and 20% local” to now more than “80% local indigeneous Cretan wines and just 20% international.”

 “We’ve taken the humble Cretan wine varieties and are now treating them the same way as we do our premium wines,” Nikos said.

Nikos’s winemaking background is reflected in the wines. A world traveler, he brought back ideas from different wine regions to make their wines better.

Karavitakis Winery makes organic wines even though it doesn’t have the certification. Their focus is on sustainability and making the best Crete wines using native grapes.

AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST TIP: For a fun wine tour from Chania, visit two wineries including Karavitakis with a sommelier as your guide. This 6-hour private Chania wine tour takes you behind the scenes to sample exclusive wines while learning about the indigenous grape varietals. A traditional Cretan is included at a 17th century cellar. With transportation from Chania included, you can relax and enjoy the wines, while someone else drives.

Wine Tasting At Karavitakis Winery

“What we are trying to capture in a bottle is the essence of Crete”, Nikos told us as we started the wine tasting.

And, as we sipped a variety of white and red Cretan wines we appreciated the nuances in each of the Cretan grape varietals.

Vidiano is the flagship wine at Karavitakis winery and we tried this white wine in blends and as a single variety. 

One of my Claire’s favorite wines was Kompsos White, a blend of Vidiano, Assyrtiko and Malvasia. The name means “elegant” in Greek, and it is fitting of the wine.

I enjoyed the single variety Vidiano from their Klima line of wines.These white wines are refreshing and easy to drink.

Many of the Karavitakis wines are sold exclusively at the winery and its worth visiting to try them out.

Tours and wine tastings are offered starting at €15 euros for five wines and Cretan starters.

RELATED: 5 Reasons Why You Want To Enjoy An Olive Oil Tasting in Crete

5. Anoskeli Winery

Anoskeli Winery is located in Anoskeli, a small village where the family is from, very close to Loupakis winery. 

Anoskeli is foremost an olive oil producer making award winning extra virgin olive oil.

What started as family tradition to produce olive oil grew into an internationally awarded olive oil under the Anoskeli brand.

Building on their success, the family moved to growing vineyards and making wines on their property. 

Anoskeli wines are hard to miss. You will easily spot their wine bottles with the ANO written vertically on the front of their bottle.

The white wines produced come all from Greek and Cretan varieties with Vilana, Vidiano and Assyrtiko grapes.

While the red wines include varieties like Liatiko, Syrah, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon.

With a small production, this family run business focuses on making high quality wines rather than quantity.

Wine Tasting At Anoskeli Winery

If you are looking to do more than a wine tour, you are at the right place. Anoskeli offers an olive oil tasting combined with their wine tasting.

This is the perfect way to get exposed to the most famous Cretan products in one setting. 

Anoskeli tasting room is a nice spacious room located at the winery named after the family’s mother, Eirini.

In addition to tasting olive oil and 5 Anoskeli wines, you can also try their premium tsikoudia. 

The tour of the olive mill and winery starts at €15 euros including olive oil tasting, 5 wines and a traditional Cretan meze.

You can also contact Anoskeli directly on their website take a guided tour from Chania.

AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST TIP: Sit back and relax with this guided Crete winery tour from Chania to Anoskeli winery. Learn about the olive oil production from past and present before enjoying your wine tasting at Anoskeli winery. Lunch at a mountain retreat is also included on this full day Cretan wineries tour from Chania.

6. Lyrarakis Winery

Lyrarakis winery is a family owned winery located in Alagni, a village south of Heraklion, known for its vinicultural heritage.

A pioneer in rescuing indigeneous grapes, Lyrarakis has been at the forefront of the renaissance of Cretan wines.

The winery focuses on the growth of rare local varieties and the production of single variety wines. 

Dafni, one of the first grapes rescued on the Cretan Island by Lyrarakis winery in the 1990s, is now getting international recognition.

Other native varieties recently rediscovered like Melissaki are unique to this Cretan winery.

For the indigeneous reds varieties, you will find Kotsifali and Mandilari as unique and must-try Cretan wines. 

Wine Tasting At Lyrarakis Winery

We first discovered Lyrarakis wines on the shelves of grocery and winery stores in Crete. Attracted by their unique label, we tasted the Kotsifali PGI red wine. 

We particularly liked its light spicy taste and cherry aroma with a dry finish. The easy to drink red wine is the perfect accompaniment to Cretan meats.

While we didn’t get the chance to enjoy wine tasting at the winery, it is definitely on our list for our next visit to Crete.

Lyrarakis offers several wine tasting packages focused on the promotion of the indigenous Cretan varieties. 

They also combine the pleasure of unique forgotten wines with the delightful Cretan gastronomy. 

The wine tasting package starts at €18 euros euros for 5 different Cretan wines. See more directly on their website at lyrarakis.com

AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST TIP: If you are interested in visiting wineries in the Heraklion area without driving, check out this Cretan wine tasting tour with lunch. With a former chef, visit two local wineries and taste 15 wines followed by a gourmet lunch. Enjoy tasting olive oil and other traditional Cretan foods.

Have you had Cretan wines or Greek wines before? Please let us know in the comments below.

Savor the Adventure!

More Local Food Experiences and Recipes

Immersive Cooking Vacations in Crete

15 Chania Restaurants For Authentic Cretan Food

Top 7 Greek Wine Tasting and Wine Bars in Athens

10 Food Tours in Athens for a Greek Feast

7 Hands-On Cooking Classes in Santorini for an Authentic Taste

Cretan Dakos Recipe: The Best Authentic Cretan Salad You Want To Make

Authentic Santorini Tomato Fritters: Recipe From The Greek Island

Love Wineries in Crete? Pin it!