Is transportation provided to Domaine Paterianakis?

No, guests are responsible for their own transport. Renting a car or taxi from Heraklion is advised.

Are children allowed on the wine tasting tour?

Yes, children under 18 are welcome but receive homemade lemonade instead of wine and must be accompanied by an adult.

Can the lunch menu accommodate dietary restrictions?

Yes, the menu can be adapted based on guests’ dietary needs if requested in advance.

What wines are featured during the tasting?

The tasting includes five wines ranging from local Cretan varieties to blends with French grapes, plus the estate’s tsikoudia brandy.

How long does the entire experience last?

The guided wine tasting and lunch typically take about two hours.

Is the experience suitable for people with limited mobility?

The experience involves walking short distances around the vineyard and sitting for lunch, but please contact Domaine Paterianakis to discuss specific accessibility needs.

Cretan Wine & Lunch Experience at Domaine Paterianakis | Food Tour

Set in the scenic village of Meleses on Crete’s sun-drenched northern coast, Domaine Paterianakis offers a distinctive outdoor culinary adventure that combines vineyard serenity with authentic local flavors. This two-hour guided wine tasting invites visitors to sample five carefully curated wines—ranging from indigenous Cretan varieties to expertly crafted blends that marry French and native grapes. Each sip reveals the island’s unique terroir: volcanic soils, Mediterranean breezes, and centuries of winemaking tradition interwoven beneath the warm Aegean sun.

After the tasting, guests settle in for a seasonal lunch set directly amidst the winery’s lush vineyards. The menu reflects the rhythms of the local garden, starring a crisp Cretan salad, homemade breads, vibrant appetizers such as roasted red peppers or beans, and a rich main course like slow-roasted pork with potatoes. Dessert and tsikoudia—a potent, locally distilled pomace brandy—round out the meal, highlighting the estate’s commitment to authentic, farm-to-table ingredients. Mineral water and virgin olive oil, also produced on site, accompany the tasting, reinforcing the deep connection to the land.

What makes Domaine Paterianakis a standout stop in Crete’s outdoor recreation scene is its ability to offer a tactile connection to the island’s agriculture and cultural heritage. Visitors leave not only with memories of stunning vineyard views but also with a true taste of Cretan hospitality and craftsmanship. This experience suits anyone wanting a leisurely, sensorial break from hiking or coastal explorations, providing a delicious complement to Crete’s outdoor offerings.

Located just a short drive from Heraklion, Domaine Paterianakis blends culinary expertise with natural beauty, making it a must-visit for travelers focused on authentic Greek flavors paired with stunning landscapes.

About Domaine Paterianakis

Domaine Paterianakis is an organic winery located in Meleses on the island of Crete, Greece. The estate offers a range of guided experiences including wine tastings, food and wine pairings, sunset tastings and seasonal vineyard lunches. Tastings highlight estate wines that blend local Cretan varieties with French influences and include options featuring three, five or seven wines—some served from magnum bottles. Several experiences pair wines with tsikoudia pomace brandy, virgin olive oil, artisanal cheeses, homemade marmalade, fresh garden vegetables and traditional dakos.

The winery emphasizes organic production and is described as Crete’s first organic winery. Guests can taste natural and organic wines made from indigenous grapes alongside locally sourced accompaniments. The Food and Wine Pairing experience is a 1.5-hour culinary tasting featuring four Cretan tapas paired with five wines and a unique tsikoudia. Other offerings include guided natural wine tastings, the Queen Bee tasting with seven organic wines, lunch after a five-wine tasting, and a Sunset tasting featuring premium wines and a platter of cheeses and garden produce.

Domaine Paterianakis provides guided tastings for visitors seeking authentic Cretan flavors and winemaking traditions that reference the island’s long vinicultural history. The estate uses produce from its garden in several experiences, reinforcing a direct connection between vineyard, kitchen and table. Most experiences include guided tastings on the estate and combine wine education with local food pairings, offering visitors an accessible way to sample organic Cretan wines, taste tsikoudia and olive oil, and learn about grape varieties and traditional production methods.