WINERY STILIANOU — Attraction in Municipality of Archane - Asterousia

We wanted to visit a winery/olive oil producer on our Cretan holiday and made an excellent choice. This medium sized 4th generation farm was both impressively high quality and understated. The owner Yanis showed us around the chai and cellar and enjoyed answering our questions. His son and daughter joined us later. We tasted 4 wines; a fresh white, rose, vintage red and a dessert red, with paired cheeses and small pasties/pies. We also tasted the cold pressed olive oil. The location is high in the hills south of Heraklion and the views are spectacular. We saw an eagle on the taxi ride up which took us through the tiny streets of villages. It was lovely to escape the coast on a very hot day. Our only regret was we didn't buy a bottle or two. Our taxi driver turned up very promptly! Neither of us are wine buffs, but there was no pressure to show off any deep wine knowledge. We have drank enough wine to know when we have experienced quality. It was moving to be invited to share this traditional way of life with the family. The visitor area is spacious, shady and comfortable, but not at all touristy. Sitting for a while in the peaceful air, except for the sounds of nature, is a feeling I will keep with me for a very long time. Thank you Yanis. May your harvests been good for many more...

We visited this beautiful wine cellar with an olive farm today and are absolutely amazed by it. We were super warmly welcomed by the parents (4th generation) and the daughter and son (thus in 5th generation), so that one has felt directly at home. The family business specializes in wine and olive oil production. We have made both the tour of the vineyard, as well as the wine and olive oil tasting. The tour of the estate was very educational and both the wine and olive oil, that were presented to us at the tasting, were fantastic. We would come back every year and can highly recommend a visit there to anyone!!

We had to be driven to the site by cab as we had not rented a car, which cost 25€. Later they told us, that Cab-drivers know to take advantage of tourists and that this amount is way too high. Ps: Ask the driver to turn on their taximeter and ask for a bill in the end so they can’t fool you! We’ve learned it the hard way!

Given the circumstances, it was uncertain how we would get back to town as there was no bus from the town. Thereupon we were directly assured by the family that we would find a way back. So herewith we would like to thank their daughter for the ride!!!

We absolutely loved the stay there! Worth...

Charming small family winery with organic vineyards. If you want to enjoy Cretan handcrafted organic wines this is definitely the right place to visit. The location is easy to find – there are distinct signs on the road and in the village of Kounavi, so you can easily drive here. The wine tasting includes four different wines – dry white, dry rose, dry red and sweet red as a dessert. Plus you can also taste organic cold pressed extra virgin olive oil which is made from the olive trees, growing around the winery. The outside sitting area is beautiful – nice and shady under the mulberry trees with fantastic view of vineyards and mountains. They also have inside sitting area for the cool days. Giannis Stilianou (the owner) and his wife are very welcoming. They greet every visitor in person and with true Cretan warm hospitality! I also like that that you can plan your visit for the weekend – from April till the end of October they work every day including Sunday. We came here just for the tasting, but keep coming back ever since to enjoy wine with a view and to buy some bottles home. Highly...