Lyrarakis Winery & Tasting Room — Attraction in Municipality of Archane - Asterousia

The customer service One of the best customer service I have ever encountered in my life. I requested their help getting there from the cruise ship and they managed my transportation for a very good price. I mentioned that I will have my 7 month old baby with me and my wife, for our surprise they had a baby seat in the car that was waiting for us. It wasn’t just any car too it was a black Mercedes van like Uber black experience and the driver had two cold waters for us and the baby seat was set perfectly to face us. I highly recommend asking them to manage your transportation rather than renting a car and driving yourself. It’s definitely cheaper and safer. The location We were amazed with the breathtaking views from the winery. There was a large group inside so they gave us the option to set inside or outside and we chose outside to enjoy the view as much as we can. Again with the high class customer service, they gave us the choice to set inside or out and said to decide after the tour and after we finished our tour they had place for us setup in both outside and inside so we don’t have to wait until they set it up, how amazing is that. The food The food not only was perfect to match each wine we tasted, but also every single plate was mouthwatering delicious in every bite. We specifically loved the meat. Finally, the wine This is by far the best wine tasting experience I’ve ever had. Each wine we tasted was exquisite. I loved all their white, red, and sparkling wine. I can’t pick a favorite for me as they were all great but my wife’s favorite was the sparkling wine ZaZaZu. In the end I highly recommend checking them out anytime you are on the island whether you are on a cruise like us or just visiting. I personally would love to go there again any...

I visited this vineyard as part of a bachelorette celebration with a group of 8 women, and it was truly an unforgettable experience! From the moment we arrived, the setting was absolutely stunning. Lush vines, beautiful views, and countless picture-perfect spots that made for amazing group and individual photos. We started with a guided tour of the vineyard and winery, where we learned about the entire winemaking process, including a fascinating explanation about the barrels and aging. Our guide was awesome, extremely knowledgeable, engaging, and had a great sense of humor, which made the experience even more enjoyable. After the tour, we did the picnic experience, and the food was beyond amazing. We were served a generous spread that included warm pita, a variety of cheeses, rice/meat stuffed in leaves/flowers, crispy fried zucchini balls, and a unique dessert made with cheese stuffed in pita and sweetened with syrup. Sooo good! The wine tasting was also super fun. We tried a great selection of wines including white, rosé, red, and a sparkling wine, which ended up being everyone’s favorite. Each wine was thoughtfully explained, and the quality was exceptional. We ended up leaving with about 8 bottles (possibly more!) to take home—more than enough for our group of eight, that was included in our experience. The entire day was full of laughter, amazing food and wine, and stunning scenery. It was the perfect combination of fun, relaxation, and a bit of education about the winemaking process. This vineyard experience definitely set the tone for a memorable weekend and was one of the highlights of our trip. Highly recommend for any group looking for a unique and...

Lyrarakis Winery is in the gorgeous interior of Crete, best traveled to via car. The winery itself is gorgeous, with the tasting room overlooking the actual vineyards with mountains in the distance.

There are a few different tasting options but I recommend the “Single Area Wine Tasting”, which is a series of 7 single-vineyard wines for 25.00€ per person. The price is incredibly reasonable, and you will get to taste a wide variety of what Lyrarakis has to offer. A number of their grapes were on the brink of extinction before Lyrarakis invested in reviving them, so you can taste some truly rare things here!

Personally, my favorite was their Dafni (greek for “laurel” as it has a pronounced herbal note) bottling, but their whole range is delicious.

You can also pre-order food if you do the “customize your wine tasting” and the food options are delicious and super reasonable in price. I’d say get the dakos for sure!

We had the pleasure of getting to geek out with one of the owners, Manolis, who was happy to help us pick up some older bottles with some age on them. Again the Dafni shone bright and I look forward to pairing it with some spiced crab cakes!

Manolis, and the whole team, were incredibly warm and welcoming, making the experience a highlight of our honeymoon in Crete. Check them out and support an awesome...