How long is the experience?

The guided tasting runs approximately 1 hour 30 minutes.

Is there an age requirement?

Yes — participants must be at least 20 years old; please bring valid ID.

What is included in the tasting?

Six glasses of wine, tasting of three olive oils, a platter of cheese, cold cuts and vegetables, bottled water, and a 10% store discount.

Are groups private or shared?

Groups are limited to ten people; bookings can be for private or small shared groups depending on availability.

Can I buy bottles after the tasting?

Yes — the shop sells wines and oils and offers a 10% discount to tasting participants.

Is the venue wheelchair accessible?

Accessibility details are not provided in the listing; contact the operator directly for specific arrangements.

Sip & Soil: Bakaliko Wine & Olive Oil Tasting in Epano Archanes

Adventure Brief

A focused 90-minute tasting in Epano Archanes that pairs six wines with three olive oils while a sommelier explains how Crete’s limestone soils and sun shape flavor. Ideal for small groups, this hands-on session includes local bites and a shop discount.

1–2 hours

easy

From €52.42

On the sunbaked slopes above Heraklion lies Epano Archanes, a compact patchwork of vineyards and olive groves where the island’s food culture is most concentrated. The Bakaliko Wine & Olive Oil Experience is a 90-minute guided tasting that turns a short afternoon into a concentrated course on Cretan terroir. Guests meet at Bakaliko Crete, Eleftherios Venizelos Square 13, Epano Archanes 701 00, Greece, and step into a cool room bright with jars and wood crates, then move through six wine samples and three olive oils under the direction of a trained sommelier. This is a tasting built on specificity. You’ll taste Vidiano’s fresh acidity and Mandilari’s darker tannic grip, alongside Koroneiki oils and the multi-phenolic Tsunati, with explanations that tie aromas and flavors to limestone bedrock, shallow terra-rossa soils, and the island’s sharp seasonal sun. The sommelier unpacks vineyard altitude, vine age, and harvest timing, then shows how each oil’s green fruit, pepper, or almond notes reflect both cultivar and mill technique. A simple platter of local cheeses, cold cuts, and vegetables reinforces pairing principles. The format is intimate—groups capped at ten—so questions are encouraged and pours are generous enough to compare side-by-side without rushing. Practical perks include bottled water, a 10% shop discount, and a small take-home sense of place; the experience is designed for adults 20 and older and lasts roughly one hour thirty minutes. Why this matters in Crete: Archanes is one of the island’s oldest cultivated landscapes, with vines and olive trees that echo millennia of farming. The tasting is not a distant commercial operation but a local window into those traditions, where you can learn to read a label, judge an oil by its finish, and buy a bottle that actually tells you where it came from. Plan to arrive with sunscreen and sturdy shoes for brief walks between displays. Space is limited, so reserve in advance via the provided booking link. Whether you’re a wine novice or an experienced taster, the Bakaliko Wine & Olive Oil Experience turns a short stop in Epano Archanes into a practical, flavor-forward education in why Crete’s sun and soil make its wines and oils essential to any island visit. After the tasting, consider a short walk through the village lanes to see traditional stone houses and small cooperatives where local producers press oil by hand; many have displays of old presses and handwritten harvest records. If you plan a longer visit, combine the tasting with trips to nearby Minoan ruins, a local cooking class, or a vineyard walk during harvest. The operator limits groups to preserve quality and atmosphere, so families and small friend groups find the format especially rewarding. Cash and card are accepted in the shop.

About Bakaliko Crete

Bakaliko Crete is a boutique food and wine experience provider based in Epano Archanes, Crete, Greece. The business offers guided wine and olive oil tastings that highlight native grape varieties and local production methods. Visitors choose from curated options including the Basic Wine Tasting Experience, Essential Wine Tasting Experience, Full Wine Tasting Experience, and the Bakaliko Wine & Olive Oil Experience.

Each tasting is led by knowledgeable guides who explain how Cretan terroir—sun, soil, and traditional cultivation—shapes wines such as Vidiano and Mandilari. Sessions vary in length and focus: one-hour wine tastings concentrate on signature wines and tasting technique, while the 90-minute wine and olive oil experience pairs vineyards with nearby olive groves to illustrate complementary flavors.

Bakaliko Crete partners with local producers and estates in the Archanes region to deliver authentic samples and factual provenance information. Tastings emphasize sensory education—aroma, body, acidity, and finish—so guests leave with clearer understanding of Cretan wine profiles and olive oil characteristics.

The setting in Epano Archanes provides easy access from Heraklion and surrounding areas, making Bakaliko Crete suitable for independent travelers, small groups, and visitors seeking a concise, informative tasting. Booking options and tour descriptions are provided so guests can select experiences that match schedule and interest. Clear timing, guided interpretation, and focus on native varieties help position Bakaliko Crete as a reliable local option for authentic Cretan wine and olive oil tasting. Information on availability and group sizes is published with each experience to simplify planning and booking for travelers year-round comfortably.

Sip & Soil: Bakaliko Wine & Olive Oil Tasting in Epano Archanes

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