Stilianou Winery

A few kilometres south of Knossos, in the heart of the ancient Minoan vineyard at Kounavi village, Crete, Yannis Stylianos cultivates 3 hectares of privately owned organic vineyard, growing unique indigenous varieties: Vidiano, Thrapsathiri, Vilana, Kotsifali, and Mandilari. In 2003, driven by a passionate belief that each place has its own unique flavours and a determination to resist the prevailing uniformity of taste, Yannis made the decisive move — transforming his passion into a profession at a boutique winery atop a small hill with magnificent views across the area. The result is approximately 20,000 numbered bottles per year of wines that truly speak of their specific Cretan terroir. A few kilometers south of Knossos, and 15 km south of Heraklion, in the heart of the Minoan vineyard at Kounavi village, Yannis Stylianos cultivates on 3 privately owned hectares of his organic vineyard unique native varieties: Vidianos, Thrapsathiri, Vilana, Kotsifali, and Mandilari.

Winery Tour and Wine Tasting

• Boutique Organic Winery Tour: Visit Stilianou’s hilltop winery at Kounavi and learn how Yannis Stylianos expresses the unique character of each indigenous Cretan variety through organic viticulture and minimal intervention.
• Indigenous Variety Focus: Understand why Yannis has made it his life’s work to champion varieties like Vidiano, Kotsifali, and Mandilari — and what makes each one distinctive in the soils around ancient Knossos.
• Wine Tasting: Taste the numbered Stilianou bottles and experience the honest, terroir-driven wines of one of Heraklion’s most passionate organic winemakers.

Book your wine tasting experience at Stilianou Winery near Knossos, Crete, through Gastronomy Tours.