Are children allowed at the tasting?

Guests under 18 can attend if accompanied by an adult but cannot take part in the wine tasting. They will be offered fresh orange juice.

Is the tasting suitable for first-time wine drinkers?

Yes, the tasting is designed to be accessible for all levels, with guides offering clear explanations and responding to questions.

How long does the tasting last?

The guided tasting lasts approximately 45 minutes.

Is the winery wheelchair accessible?

Due to historic terrain and natural grounds, some areas may be challenging for wheelchairs; it’s best to inquire ahead of your visit.

Can I purchase wines on-site?

Yes, Domaine Paterianakis offers bottles for sale, allowing visitors to take home their favorite natural wines.

What foods are included with the wine tastings?

The tasting includes premium local cheeses, homemade marmalade, organic tomatoes, cured meats, virgin olive oil, and rusks.

Natural Wine Tasting at Domaine Paterianakis, Crete | Guided Tour | Events

On the sun-soaked slopes of Meleses, Crete, Domaine Paterianakis stands out as a pioneering force in organic winemaking. As the island’s first certified organic winery, it invites visitors to sample a distinct side of Cretan terroir through its Natural Wine Tasting experience. Here, the focus is on wines derived from indigenous grape varieties that reflect the island’s rugged landscape and centuries-old viticultural traditions without interference from additives or overly processed techniques.

Nestled within a rural setting characterized by olive groves and Mediterranean scrub, Domaine Paterianakis offers a 45-minute guided tasting designed for both casual wine drinkers and aficionados seeking something off the beaten path. Guests sample three natural wines, each presenting a vibrant expression of Crete’s unique microclimate and soil composition. These wines aren’t just beverages—they are living snapshots of the landscape, cultivated with respect for biodiversity and organic farming principles.

Paired thoughtfully with these wines is a platter showcasing local flavors: premium Cretan cheeses, homemade marmalade made from seasonal fruits, freshly picked organic tomatoes from the estate’s garden, cured delicacies, a drizzle of the region’s celebrated virgin olive oil, and rusks that provide a satisfying crunch. This combination highlights the simplicity and freshness that define Cretan cuisine, showing how food and wine can harmonize in understated perfection.

The tasting experience is intimate, often hosted by knowledgeable guides who share insights on the winery’s methods, the growing environment, and the cultural history of winemaking on Crete. Domaine Paterianakis is not just a tasting room; it’s a gateway into how sustainable practices intertwine with tradition to produce wines that tell a story.

For travelers venturing beyond the island’s classic beaches and archaeological sites, this stop offers a grounded, sensory experience that connects the palate directly to place. Situated just outside the small village of Meleses, it serves as a refreshing counterpoint to the typical tourist routes and offers a genuine encounter with Crete’s living agricultural heritage.

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.