Cellar Wine Tasting Course at Afianes Wines

A fusion of wine tradition, archaeology, and innovation, the Afianes estate is located on the Ikarian highlands overlooking the western end of the island — a true sanctuary for wine and nature lovers.

Afianes wine estate was created in 1997 in the Raches district of Ikaria. Today, Afianes wines have established themselves worldwide, combining the ancient wine traditions of Ikaria with exquisite local grape varieties and innovative winemaking methods. The 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.

Explore the treasures of Afianes wine by learning the best-kept secrets of winemaking with this certified cellar wine tasting course. 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, including how to identify the aromatic nuances of the ageing process and how to select the right wine for each occasion.

During the class, a platter with cheese and smoked Ikarian pork will be served, together with rusks baked in a traditional wood-fired oven. *Only by reservation 24 hours in advance.

Winery Tour and Wine Tasting

• Cellar Wine Tasting Course: Descend into the Afianes cellar for a structured wine tasting course — learning systematic evaluation methodology while exploring the estate’s portfolio of indigenous Ikarian varieties and rare ancient Greek grape varieties.
• Natural Winemaking Philosophy: Learn about Afianes’s commitment to traditional methods and minimal intervention, and understand how this philosophy expresses itself differently in each vintage.
• Ikarian Wine Diversity: Taste multiple expressions of Ikarian wine across different vintages and styles, developing a comprehensive appreciation for what makes this island’s winemaking tradition so distinctive on the Aegean Islands.