Gourmet products local specialties and wines Crete

The Dimitriadis family has been growing olives and producing oil for 6 generations. Today, they take us through their vast estate to discover the cultivation and production of olives and organic olive oil. The tour starts at the mill, followed by a documentary film and a tasting. The production process takes place in the family's premises in the village of Astrika. A warm welcome and delicious olive oil, all in respect of Cretan traditions and the environment. Store. Good address.

Overlooking the village of Kounavi near Katalagari, the Stilianou vineyard is curled according to organic standards respecting nature and the local Cretan tradition. By awakening nature, the Cretan sun increases the power of the shoots grown on the mountain vineyards, which are refreshed by Eole, the god of winds. Stilianou wines are produced in a new modern cellar, it is a limited production with each bottle numbered. A nice gift idea to bring back in your suitcases.

This delicatessen, established for 40 years, sells dried fruits, Greek ground coffee, pastries, chocolates, spices... We particularly recommend this address for herbal teas from Crete: diktamon, mountain tea, chamomile, etc., and for fine herbs: thyme, oregano... The products are of very good quality and not more expensive than elsewhere. The loukoums are excellent: scented with rose, bergamot and other intoxicating essences, they are filled with almond chips... A good idea for a gift to bring back!

The covered market of Hania was built in 1911 and inaugurated by Elefterios Venizelos himself in 1913, on the occasion of the events that took place that year to celebrate the annexation of Crete to Greece. The market is well worth a visit, although it has lost some of its charm with the installation of many tourist shops. You can still buy fish, cheese, spices, and Cretan souvenirs. The weather is cool, which is nice for lunch or a stroll.

The 1866 market is a must in Heraklion, with its spicy perfumes and daily effervescence. Unfortunately, cheap souvenir stalls are beginning to proliferate, as well as clothing shops and leather merchants' stalls. You will find many typical products, fruits, flowers, oil and olives, soaps, groceries, bakeries, fishmonger, gyros, pharmacy, taverns and Cretan food. Push up to the Membo Fountain, its water is said to grant wishes.

The monks of the Toplou monastery produce one of the best wines of the island (especially the white one). You can buy it in some supermarkets and in the monastery store. Don't miss to visit the cellar where it is vinified, the monks are equipped with highly modern facilities! Their raki and organic olive oil are also excellent quality products. The region of Sitia is indeed one of the most important wine producing areas of Crete.

The best ice creams and sorbets in town, prepared with fresh cow or goat milk and seasonal fruit! To have an ice cream, a Cretan baklava-style dessert, a delicious lightning bolt filled with vanilla ice cream, a fruit tart, drink an orangeade or an excellent coffee, here is a shady terrace, frequented by locals and Greek visitors but unknown to tourists. There is a second address at 51 Palaiologou Street, near the Rimondi Fountain, in the old part of Rethymnon.

The famous bakery of Mr. Vasilis Kormoranos was one of the first in the village. On its small outdoor terrace you can enjoy good home-made pastries, but also, just next door and opposite, in the second room, a large choice of small menus for lunch or dinner. In a charming little alleyway, you can discover all the authenticity of the old towns of Crete. Feeling a little hungry? Try the sfakia pie, a cheese cake filled with honey covered in dripping honey and served hot as you like... a delight!

The Tamiolakis area is located near the village Houdetsi, 20 km south of Heraklion, in the Viticole wine region (the tomb of Nikos Kazantzakis is 12 km away). Organic vineyards are spread over 13 acres and also include a small cellar. In addition to the characteristic varieties of Peza (kotsifali, mandilaria, vilana), there are also: vidiano, dafni, plyto, thrapsathiri and Muscat of Spina, but also foreign varieties such as: Syrah, Merlot, cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay and Sauvignon white to complement the mixed concept of the domain. Guided tour in excellent French on reservation.

Visit and tasting for fans of local productions: wine and raki.

It was here in the year 2000 that journalist Stelios Zacharioudakis and his wife Victoria realized their dream with great enthusiasm, and created an estate and a place to visit that pays tribute to the vine and wine. At the top and crown of the Orthi Petra hill, at an altitude of 500 meters, a 30-hectare vineyard is planted on soils that can produce harvests of excellent wines from organic grapes. On a stony, limestone, sloping land, and in combination with the altitude, red grape varieties are grown: Kotsifali, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, as well as white grape varieties: Vilana, Vidiano, Malvazia and Sauvignon. The estate currently produces 120,000 bottles of organic wine per year, including one of the best vidiano on the island. You can take a 1,800 m walk through the vineyards around the hill and enjoy a spectacular view of the Messara plain and the Psiloris and Asteroussia mountain ranges, as well as the island of Gavdos and the Libyan Sea. The tasting room where the tour ends is spectacular and offers a panoramic view of the Libyan Sea. The tasting room where the tour ends is spectacular and offers a panoramic view of the Libyan Sea, inspiring vocations in viticulture! The winery offers wine pairing experiences with a chef specializing in Cretan dishes, including snails. Before planning your visit, check the website for the schedule as it changes regularly.

The Avli grocery store (consumer goods store) is an exclusive shop in Rethymnon, displaying exceptional food and drinks from small producers in Greece and especially in Crete. In this shop you can discover high quality gastronomic and wine products! You can find virgin olive oil, olive oil flavoured with rosemary and herbs or spices, charcuterie as well as other famous local products such as raki, honey and drinks. Varied tastings..

The vineyard is located south of Knossos, not far from Spilia, at about 200 m above sea level. Here you can visit the cellars, taste and buy the wines of this famous Greek producer in the middle of its vineyards.

To buy wine from Peza, you can visit this Minos centre, Crete wines where Nikos Miliarakis will welcome you. It features a museum, a tasting room and a projection room.

This new pastry café is a sweet treat, with its pastel velvet armchairs and timeless atmosphere. It is one of the few pastry shops where the pastries are of such a high quality. Everything is prepared with care and finesse. You can taste delicious desserts that are not lacking in imagination. With a very low price per piece, the pastry chef invites us to taste a wide range of his "miniature" cakes before choosing the ones we prefer! It is perfect for a snack break during the day. An address that is worth a visit.

A shop of traditional products where the welcome is in French. Large selection of organic or award-winning olive oils. You will also find an important department of cosmetic products based on natural elements such as olive oil. Handcrafted ceramics, objects carved in olive wood, wines, dried aromatic plants... An ideal shop to find Cretan gifts to bring back from your stay. The products are presented with taste and the ranges are wide enough for everyone to find what they are looking for.

This shop offers local products from the small owners. You can find first-press virgin olive oil, herbs, honey with thyme, olives, traditional Cretan pasta, cheeses and very good local cold meats. One of the few shops where you can find raki cooked and aged for a long time in barrels (48,50 € per bottle), organic raki... It is an excellent address where you can find a gift idea among all the good local products or simply to treat yourself.

An ideal place for a breakfast or a late brunch. In the "juice bar", there are several fresh fruit (and vegetable) juices on offer - but you will also find all kinds of coffee to suit your taste, to get the day off to a good start. A delicious yoghurt is also available at an affordable price, with a choice of assortments. You can also go there later in the day to enjoy some Greek desserts and a glass of raki. The place remains quiet, although it comes alive in the evening when the regulars sit there.

The establishment owes its fame to its specialty, the famous galaktoboureko (pastry filled with custard and soaked in a light syrup flavored with vanilla, cinnamon and lemon). The success of the recipe, which has been passed down from father to son, is due to the fresh milk of the local sheep and goats. You can also enjoy homemade ice cream and cakes. Recently renovated, the pastry shop is a meeting place for locals and all travelers who pass through the town of Kandanos. The detour will be well rewarded.