The Tholos Taverna boasts a a special menu based on the famously healthy "Cretan Diet"  prepared in a traditional way. They have an extenisve range of local wines and there is often traditional music.

 

Traditional Crete, Organic Food & Wine Tasting 

 

Malaxa

The Malaxiana centre in the village of Malaxa, 9km from Megala Chorafia, is a beautifully renovated former olive mill built into the hillside with spectacular views to the White Mountains. The owners, Demetrios and Katerina, are conservationists and have been involved in many environmental projects in Crete. Cretan culture and food evenings are usually held weekly at the centre; Demetrios talks about Cretan culture and diet while Katerina prepares fresh organic food and snacks. Details can be found on our ‘What’s On’ information sheet or from your representative.

 

Milia Village

Milia is a restored and protected old settlement located south of Kissamos and the Topolia Gorge,  4 kilometers from the village of Vlatos. It is built on a mountain slope which forms one side of a valley and is situated in an area unique for its expansive variety of plants and trees. The philosophy of Milia is to preserve the natural life cycle in such a way that is friendly towards both the environment and people, working according to the traditional principles and history of Crete.
The settlement has a taverna, guest house and an organic farm. Mostly run without electricity;  lighting is by gas and candlelight, refrigerators run on natural gas and there are wood-burning ovens.  All natural products are recycled. Edible fruit and vegetables end up in the kitchen, while their remnants and other plants feed the animals, who in turn provide milk and cheese, meat, leather, and wool.

The taverna offers year-round home-made delights made from produce cultivated organically on the farm.

 

Leonida’s Traditions in Xilioumoudou, near Samonas

The Taverna Lemonia is set on top of a hill in Xilioumoudou with breathtaking views and uses only fresh local produce, including organic meat, cheeses, olive oil and wine. The owner, Leonidas Rethemiotakis, has a small olive oil factory which produces organic olive oil by traditional methods using a donkey to turn the mill. He also makes the Cretan musical instruments, the lyra and laouto. Visit the taverna on Saturday morning or Monday evening (with live music) and you can take a guided tour of the olive oil factory as well as learn about the making of the Cretan musical instruments followed by lunch or dinner at the Taverna. Details can be found on our ‘What’s On’ information sheet or from your representative.

The Observer: "Our other top trip is to Taverna Lemonia, a 20-minute drive along twisting roads into the White Mountains. This taverna has not only stunning views, but is also home to Leonidas, one of a handful of olive farmers still using traditional olive presses. We take a tour of the small mill where he uses a donkey to turn the massive stone wheels that crush the olives. This is cold-pressed olive oil, now a rarity in Crete, as heating olives allows for faster pressing, but as our bottle proved, a less intense flavour. Leonidas is also a master craftsman, and shows us his workshop, full of traditional stringed instruments which he makes, bespoke, for local musicians. We are invited into the family house for coffee and cheese pies, made from their own mizithra (a soft goat's cheese) and horta (wild greens). As we tuck in, Leonidas picks up a lyre and plays for us. "

 

 

Wine Tasting – Heraklion

These three wineries are all near Knossos and you could combine them with a visit to Knossos.

Boutari Wines

The Boutari exhibition hall is inside an estate vineyard called Fantaxometocho.

The estate lies just outside the village of Skalani, on the road towards the village of Mirtia, birthplace of the famous Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis, 8km from Heraklion.

Open to visitors every day from 10:00 until 18:00.

Peza Union

The Peza exhibition center is located a couple of km past Peza village on the left side of the road to Agies Paraskies village.

Open from 9:00 a.m. to 15:00 p.m. from Monday to Saturday.

Minos Wines

The wine tasting hall of the Milliarakis Winery is situated on the right side of the road close to the exit from Peza village.

Open Monday to Friday 09:00 - 16:00, Saturday 11:00 - 16:00