Afianes Wines – Guided Tour and Wine Tasting in Ikaria

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 sits on a verdant hilltop, interspersed with natural granite boulders, and is a true sanctuary for wine and nature lovers alike.

From the outset, Nikos Afianes and his wife, Maria, set out to restore Ikarian wine to its historic place on the global wine map. Afianes Wine Estate was established 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, the exquisite local grape varieties, and the innovative winemaking methods. Visitors can learn about the traditional Ikarian wine-making process, beginning with the old “cyclopean horseshoe-shaped winepress” and the stone cellar for clay jars where the wine is made.

Afianes’ state-of-the-art winery is located within a large vineyard in the village of Profitis Elias, in the northwestern part of Ikaria, at an altitude of 610 m.

Wine Tour & Tasting

Experience all the nuances of the Afianes wines with this guided estate tour and wine tasting.

Begin the tour by visiting the “Pithostasi”, where wine is fermented and aged in clay jars buried underground, and experience the ancient Ikarian vinification method. Explore the stone amphitheatre located 610 meters above sea level and take in the breathtaking views of the hillsides of the Chalari canyon. Take a close look at the granite press where grapes are trodden by foot, and visit the winery’s pirate stone house, where the estate’s oldest wines are safeguarded. Visit the winery’s cultural area, which houses a collection of traditional Ikarian artefacts, and immerse yourself in this timeless winemaking tradition.

Taste three of the best fresh wines the estate has to offer, a white, a rosé, and a red, under the guidance of an experienced guide, and clear your palate with rusks baked in a traditional wood-fired oven. Learn to identify each wine’s character and discover its layered aromas and rich flavours.