Wines and culinary delights

Upon your arrival in Thessaloniki, “meet and greet” by your guide and transfer to your hotel to check in. In the afternoon you have time to explore the city on your own.

Today you will visit your first winery – Gerovassiliou in Epanomi. On three sides, the sea flanks the slopes, where, besides the grapevines there are a variety of olive trees thriving. You will have wine tasting before you leave for Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece, the “gate” to the east and the capital of the province of Macedonia. Remains from Byzantine and Roman times reflect the more than 2000-year history of the city. The extensive centre is partially surrounded by meter-high walls of the Byzantine period. Your bus takes you to the “White Tower”, the famous landmark of the city. You have enough time to explore the city centre on your own or to try a “Frappé” (Greek foam-covered iced coffee) in one of the many promenade café shops.

Today your route leads you first to the Dalamaras winery near picturesque Naoussa, nestled between the vineyards. This family business has been in existence since 1840. During your tour and a lunch with wine tasting, you will learn a lot about the cultivation and production of the popular wines. You then continue to Vergina. Here the archaeologist Manos Andronikos discovered an intact tomb in the autumn of 1977, where the Madedonian King Philipp II, father of Alexander the Great, was buried. The ashes of the dead lay in a cloth wrapped in an almost 8-pound gold shrine, the lid of which is adorned with a sixteenpointed star. But the real attraction of Vergina is the tumulus with the royal tomb of Philip II. Visit and then continue to your next hotel in Metsovo.

Metsovo is a traditional mountain village divided into two halves by a deep ravine. It is located on a hill at about 1200m and is known for the production of two types of cheese. In the late 1950s the area became an important part of the wine-growing region, although vineyards were cultivated in the surroundings of Metsovo. You visit the Art Gallery Averoff, which houses works of great Greek painters, graphic artists and sculptors from the 19th and 20th centuries. Simple but aesthetically, the estate “Averoff” nestles on the vineyards with a breathtaking panorama view. Let yourself be immersed in the wine production and all its history while you enjoy local wine tasting. The famous “Metsovono” –hard smoked cheese made from cow’s milk or a mixture of cow and sheep-goat milk must not be missed here.

Today you leave Metsovo and continue to Ioannina, the largest city of Epirus and on the shores of the lake, known in ancient times, as Pamvotis. Particularly impressive is the fortress of the city – the Frourio Citadelle – one of the oldest in Greece. It offers a splendid panorama of the city, Lake Pamvotida and the picturesque mountain landscape. We recommend the boat trip to the charming monastery island of Nissi, Ioanninon which is surrounded by reeds and situated in the middle of the lake. Leisure time with lunch, before you continue to your next mountain hotel.

Enjoy the breathtaking landscape with a view of the summit of Tymphi. Your hotel is built in traditional stone and ideally located to visit the “Papingo villages” or “Monodendri”. Let yourself be pampered by the hotel’s amenities or accompany us on an optional excursion to the surrounding area (Eláti – Kapéssovo – Monodéndri). You will visit a workshop and learn about all the stages of processing sheep’s wool: from washing and carding to its use in woollen garments. You will also get a sense of the effects of natural dyes on the wool and on natural textiles such as Chiffonide, raw silk and cotton gauze. We continue to Zagori village “Kapéssovo”. Sterna is known as the small coffee pot with traditional products. Here you will find a cistern, built in 1848, 13m deep, which collects rainwater. Last stop today is Monodéndri, one the most famous villages in the north of Epirus with old, feudal manor houses. Above the villages you have a breathtaking view of the Vikos George. Passing the village square you will reach the “Agia Paraskevi” monastery. A part of the path, which is partly cut into the rock, leads from here to an uninhabited hermitage (not accessible). The lunch break gives you the opportunity to try one of the local specialties – the “Alevropitta” (flour pie). Monodéndri is known for its famous pies. € 33.00 per person including entrance to the workshop.

After your substantial breakfast you will return to Thessaloniki. Shortly before you visit the last winery of your trip. The vineyard dates back to 1911, when the founder imported glass bottles from USA for wine bottling. Today, they produce wines and liqueurs with the use of traditional methods.

On your last day you will visit the “Commune” Perek. It is located on a property with a fantastic view. It was founded by a community of citizens with the philosophy of life “back to nature”. All the basic foodstuff specialties are grown on the property or come from the neighbouring family farms. They are processed using traditional methods at the in-house “workshop” – in other words: from the field directly on the plate. During a guided tour through the plant and the workshop, you will learn a lot about the production of bread and cereal products as well as traditional dishes such as the recipe for the well-known filled vine leaves. At the joint lunch, where the local delicacies from the surroundings are served, you will end the morning comfortably.

Your holiday trip ends today. We hope that you enjoyed it and return home with many pleasant memories and holiday photos. Transfer to the airport and return flight.