Cellar Wine Tasting Course at Afianes Wines

A fusion of wine tradition, archaeology, and innovation.
Located on the Ikarian highlands overlooking the western end of the island, the Afianes estate is a place where wine, friends, nature, and tradition come together. The winery spreads across a verdant hilltop, interspersed with natural granite outcroppings, and is a true sanctuary for wine and nature lovers alike.
From the outset, Nikos Afianes and his wife, Maria, aimed to have Ikarian wine regain its ancient place on the global wine map. Afianes wine estate was created with love and good taste in 1997 in the Raches district of Ikaria. Today, Afianes wines have established themselves worldwide as unique, combining the ancient wine traditions of Ikaria with the exquisite local grape varieties and the innovative winemaking methods. Visitors can get acquainted with the traditional Ikarian way of making wine, starting with the old “cyclopean horseshoe-shaped winepress” and the stone cellar for clay jars where the wine-making process takes place.
Afianes’ state-of-the-art winery is built within a large vineyard in the village of Profitis Elias, in northwestern Ikaria, at an altitude of 610 m.

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION

Explore the treasures of Afianes wine by learning the best-kept secrets of winemaking with this certified tasting class.
Take part in a private wine tasting class under the guidance of the winemaker himself, who will reveal all his winemaking and tasting techniques perfected over the years. Be taken to the pirate stone house where the oldest wines of the estate are stored and taste five of the best labels the winery has to offer. Learn how to identify multi-layered aromas and other characteristics of wine. During the class, a platter with cheese and smoked Ikarian pork will be served, together with rusks baked in a traditional wood-fired oven.
Upon completion of this class, you will not only have learned how to identify the aromatic nuances of the ageing process but also how to select the right wine for each occasion.
*Only by reservation 24 hours in advance.