Tour, Tasting and Food Pairing at Protoulis, Master Olive Oil Makers

The Protoulis family, originally from Asia Minor, settled in the Plomari province of Lesbos, Greece, in the late 19th century. George Protoulis, born around 1880, began cultivating olives on 7,5 acres of land. His son, Giannis, expanded the business by acquiring another 12,5 acres and establishing the first olive mill in Megalohori village in 1975.

Under the leadership of Kostas Protoulis, the family business grew significantly. Kostas built a second olive mill in Trygonas in 2005 and expanded their olive groves to nearly 125 acres. Today, the Protoulis family operates two modern mills equipped with state-of-the-art cold extraction machinery and extensive storage facilities.

The Protoulis mills are open to visitors, offering guided tours and tastings to showcase their olive oil production process. These visits provide an opportunity to learn about the island’s olive cultivation and the family’s dedication to quality.

Olive Mill Tour and Olive Oil Tasting

• Estate Tour: Explore the Protoulis estate in Plomari and learn the 140-year story of this Asia Minor-rooted olive oil family and their Lesbos olive heritage
• Olive Oil Tasting: Participate in a guided tasting of Protoulis’s premium Lesbos olive oil using professional evaluation methodology
• Food Pairing Session: Discover how Protoulis’s Lesbos olive oil pairs with traditional Greek foods and Aegean island specialties in a curated food pairing experience

Kostas’ sons, Yiannis and Paraschos, are actively involved in the business, ensuring the continuation of the family tradition. The Protoulis family remains committed to producing high-quality olive oil with a distinctive fruity taste and aroma, investing in modern technology and infrastructure to maintain their standards.

Would you like to be initiated into the most arcane mysteries of Mytilene olive oil production and delve deeper into the tasting experience? If so, this tour is perfect for you. Explore more Aegean Islands experiences through Gastronomy Tours.