Crete: Wine & Olive Oil Tour with Raki Tasting & Lunch

5.00

(147 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The van smelled faintly of thyme when we set off from Heraklion — or maybe that was just the air out here, I’m not sure. Our guide, Maria, waved us into the olive groves first. She was quick to point out the gnarled trunks (some older than my own country) and let us crush a leaf between our fingers. The olive mill itself was loud and a bit chilly inside; I remember the metallic clank of the presses and the way fresh oil tasted grassy on bread, almost sharp at the back of my throat. I’d never had “breakfast” like this before — dipping bread in oil while someone’s uncle poured strong coffee nearby.

The winery was run by a family who seemed to know everyone in the valley. We wandered between rows of vines, dust sticking to our shoes. Maria explained how these grapes have been grown here since Minoan times — she said it so casually, but you could tell she felt proud of it. Five wines later (I liked the white best, though I’ll admit I lost track after number three), we sat under some vines and just watched clouds drift over the hills for a while. There’s something about that kind of quiet you don’t get in cities.

I didn’t expect to like raki, honestly — too many bad memories of cheap shots at student bars — but at this little distillery it felt different. The owner showed us an ancient wine press and laughed when I tried to say “tsikoudia” properly (I still can’t). Lunch was simple: tomatoes so sweet they tasted like fruit, salty cheese, bread that left flour on your hands. Someone played music in the background but mostly we just ate and talked about nothing important.

The last stop was a pottery studio tucked into a village that looked straight out of an old postcard. The potter’s hands moved fast; mine didn’t, but nobody minded when my bowl collapsed sideways. It’s funny how those small moments stick with you more than any photo — like the smell of clay or the way Maria kept calling everyone “my friend.”