Skip to main content Skip to footer 
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Zitsa Food Tours
Wine-Laced Traditions in the Heart of Epirus
A Taste of Epirus in Every Sip and Bite
Perched on the slopes of the Pindus Mountains, the historic village of Zitsa offers a culinary journey infused with the aromas of mountainous herbs and the legacy of winemaking. Renowned for its semi-sparkling white wine and traditional Epirus hospitality, Zitsa invites you to slow down and enjoy authentic local flavors. On a Zitsa Food Tour, rustic charm meets oenological excellence—where every dish pairs with a story, and every glass connects you to the land.
What Makes Zitsa a Unique Culinary Destination
The Birthplace of Debina Wines:
Zitsa is the homeland of the native Debina grape, used to produce crisp, aromatic whites and semi-sparkling wines—an essential part of the area’s identity and menus.
A True Mountain Table:
With its high elevation and rich pastures, the village offers hearty cuisine rooted in dairy, game, and foraged greens, reflecting the rugged landscape of Epirus.
Byron’s Favorite View, Now a Culinary One:
The same village that charmed Lord Byron in the 19th century now charms travelers with meze, wine tastings, and traditional recipes prepared with local pride.
Local Highlights & Gastronomic Treasures
Debina Wine:
Sample the signature white wines—crisp, dry, and slightly sparkling—produced from ancient vineyards and perfectly paired with cheeses and fish dishes.
Artisanal Cheeses & Dairy:
From local feta and galotyri to kefalotyri, Zitsa’s cheeses are rich, tangy, and often made in small family dairies.
Mushrooms & Wild Greens:
Autumn brings prized mushrooms from nearby forests, while spring and summer dishes feature horta (wild greens) and mountain herbs.
Pies of Epirus:
Feast on spanakopita, tyropita, and the famed blatsaria—a savory pie made with cornmeal, greens, and feta—cooked in wood-fired ovens.
Meats & Stews:
Try kokkinisto (slow-cooked beef in tomato sauce), lamb with herbs, or even wild boar, seasoned with bay, rosemary, and local wine.
Traditional Sweets:
End your meal with spoon sweets made from quince or sour cherry, and try karydopita (walnut cake with syrup) flavored with cinnamon and clove.
A Destination Beyond the Plate
Beyond its flavors, Zitsa enchants with stone-built houses, panoramic vineyard views, and tranquil monastery paths. The nearby gorge of Kalamas River and the Agia Paraskevi Monastery offer scenic and spiritual stops between meals. Whether walking through vineyards or dining in a hidden courtyard, Zitsa’s food culture is tied to its land, rhythm, and resilience.
Explore Our Zitsa Food Tours
Experience Epirus through the lens of its most charming wine village. Our Zitsa Food Tours take you to boutique wineries, rustic tavernas, and local kitchens where you’ll taste, sip, and celebrate the flavors that make this highland village a hidden gastronomic gem.