Heraklion Zacharioudakis Winery in Plouti

Location: Plouti

Zacharioudakis Winery was established by former journalist Stelios Zacharioudakis and his spouse Victoria with the goal of creating an area to honor the vineyards and wine of Crete. The Zacharioudakis Domaine, as it is also known, has been built atop Orthi Petra Hill in the village of Plouti, first opening its doors in 2009. At an altitude of 500 meters, the expansive 2000-square-meter vineyard is afforded rocky grounds and impeccable weather conditions that result in the cultivation of high-quality organic grapes.

The winery consists of 3 levels, each dedicated to a specific aspect of the wine-making process. There is the grape gathering level, the production level and the the cellar where maturing is achieved in oak barrels. The wines are then bottled in a state-of-the-art bottling machine that guarantees the highest-quality final product. Zacharioudakis’ organic wines have gained a lot of attention for their authentic representation of Cretan terroir, showing its characteristics in both the white and red vinification.

Both the vineyard and the winery are open to visitors through organized tours. During the tour of the vineyard, guests will be able to learn about how it was planted around the hill while enjoying the magnificent view overlooking the Valley of Messaras. They will then be given the opportunity to taste the land’s wines and various traditional Cretan dishes as well as participate in a grape pressing session. Before leaving, visitors may make their purchases of organic wines and other products from the on-site retail shop.