Greece · April 18–26, 2027
Four thousand years of winemaking. Nine days to taste it properly.
The trip
Athens, the Peloponnese and Crete — by glass, by ferry, by back road.
Greek wine is having its moment, and almost nobody outside Greece can name the grapes. Nine days fixes that: Agiorgitiko in Nemea, Moschofilero in the Arcadian highlands, Assyrtiko off the volcanic soil of Santorini, and a set of Cretan varieties grown nowhere else on earth.
We start in Athens under the Acropolis, cross the Isthmus of Corinth into the Peloponnese, and work our way through the vineyards to the harbour town of Nauplion. From there it's an overnight ferry to Crete, a day trip to Santorini's volcanic vineyards, and a slow return north through Chania before a farewell dinner back in Athens.
Twelve wineries. Seven group meals. An olive oil mill, the theatre at Epidaurus, and the Heraklion Archaeological Museum with a guide who can actually explain the Minoans. This trip is co-hosted with Nikki Erpelding and Karin Rockstad of Vine Lab Wine & Spirits Academy — they handle the wine education, I can handle your flights and any additional days you'd like to spend in Greece.
At a glance
The essentials
- Dates
- April 18–26, 2027
Sunday to Monday - Length
- 9 days / 8 nights
- Starts & ends
- Athens Airport (ATH)
- Pace
- Relaxed, wine-led
- Accommodation
- 3–4★ hotels & ferry cabins
- Wineries
- Twelve, across four regions
- Group size
- 10–14 travelers
- From
- $4,600 per person
Day by day
Where we go, and why we go there in that order.
The route follows the grapes — Agiorgitiko in the northeast Peloponnese, Moschofilero in the highlands, then the islands. Travel to Athens is on your own on Saturday, April 17; I can help you book it.
Arrival, Plaka and the Acropolis
Arrive at Athens International on your own flights. At an arranged time we transfer together by private bus into the city centre and check in near the old town.
An easy walking tour of Plaka to shake off the flight, then up to the Acropolis. Group welcome dinner to start things properly.
Hotel Plaka, Athens · Dinner included
Into the Peloponnese — Nemea and Nauplion
Early departure by private bus with our wine host, with a photo stop at the Isthmus of Corinth on the way. Then into Nemea, the home of Agiorgitiko — Greece's most planted red grape, and the one people tend to fall for first.
Two wineries, tasting across the range of styles they produce, and a group lunch in a traditional taverna. We continue to Nauplion, a seaside town of Venetian fortresses and marble streets, for an afternoon walking tour. Evening free.
Hotel Park, Nauplion · Breakfast & lunch included
The ancient theatre, and how olive oil is really made
A morning run out to the theatre at Epidaurus — the best preserved in Greece and still famous for acoustics that carry a whisper to the back row. It hosts concerts and plays to this day.
Group lunch, then a modern olive oil mill on the way back to Nauplion to see how the good stuff is actually produced. Free afternoon and evening in town.
Hotel Park, Nauplion · Breakfast & lunch included
Moschofilero country, then a night at sea
We head for the high plateau around Tripoli, where Moschofilero grows — a pink-skinned white with a perfume that surprises everybody the first time. Two wineries making wines of real character, and a group lunch.
Late afternoon we continue to the port of Piraeus and board the overnight ferry to Crete, in two-berth cabins.
Two-berth ferry cabin, Piraeus–Heraklion · Breakfast & lunch included
Crete — native grapes and the Minoans
Early arrival in Heraklion. After breakfast we drive out to the largest wine region on the island to meet varieties cultivated nowhere else on earth, with a history that runs back further than almost anywhere in the wine world. Two wineries, then group lunch.
Back to the city for a rest, then an afternoon guided visit to the award-winning Heraklion Archaeological Museum and the Minoan civilisation that flourished here four thousand years ago.
Hotel Ibis, Heraklion · Breakfast & lunch included
Volcanic vineyards and the great Assyrtiko
Breakfast to go and an early transfer to the port for the high-speed ferry to Santorini. Our bus takes us straight out to the volcanic vineyards, where vines are woven into low basket shapes on the ground to survive the wind.
Two wineries and the world-famous Assyrtiko — taut, saline, and unlike anything else in white wine. Lunch and free time in Fira, then the return ferry to Crete.
Hotel Ibis, Heraklion · Breakfast included
West across Crete — Rethymno, a monastery, and the night ferry
Early departure west to the picturesque town of Chania. On the way, a beautiful winery in Rethymno and a monastery, and the unusual grape varieties that belong to this end of the island.
Group lunch, time in Chania's Venetian harbour, and an evening departure on the overnight ferry back to Piraeus in two-berth cabins.
Two-berth ferry cabin, Chania–Piraeus · Breakfast & lunch included
A fourth-generation winery, and a last dinner
Early arrival in Piraeus and breakfast to go. Our bus takes us to a fourth-generation family winery in one of Attica's historic wine regions, where we taste local wines and the Retsina that's actually worth drinking.
Back to Athens for free time and lunch on your own, then a group farewell dinner. This is usually the night everyone stays up too late comparing notes on what they're shipping home.
Hotel Plaka, Athens · Breakfast & dinner included
Athens — home
Breakfast at the hotel, then a private bus to Athens International Airport at a time set closer to departure.
If you'd like to stay on in Greece — the islands, Delphi, a few extra days in Athens — tell me early and I'll build it around the trip.
Departure from ATH · Breakfast included
What you're paying for
Included, and not included.
In your rate
- Six nights in 3– and 4★ hotels in Athens, the Peloponnese and Crete, double occupancy, private bathroom
- Two overnight ferry cabins — Piraeus–Heraklion and Chania–Piraeus, two-berth, double occupancy
- Daily buffet breakfast
- Twelve winery visits with tastings of three to six wines at each, including snacks
- Seven meals, including the welcome and farewell dinners
- Private air-conditioned bus with a professional driver throughout
- Vine Lab wine hosts and group leaders, 24 hours a day
- English-speaking guide at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum
- Admission to the Acropolis, Epidaurus and the Heraklion Archaeological Museum
- Toll fees and Greek VAT on all services
- 24-hour assistance and guidance
Not included
- International airfare to and from the US — I can book this for you
- Any meals or services not listed above
- Gratuities for your hosts and driver — optional, 3–4 euros per day each is customary
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses, shopping and wine shipping
- Single room supplement, if you'd like your own room
- Extra nights or extensions before or after the trip
Investment
What it costs.
Per person · double occupancy · at 14 travelers
Single supplement $475
- $4,600 per person at 14 travelers · $4,700 at 12 · $4,900 at 10
- $500 deposit secures your place, due September 15, 2026
- $2,000 second payment due November 15, 2026
- Balance due February 15, 2027, once the group size is confirmed
- Small group — 14 travelers maximum, and it will fill
The contact sheet
What you'll come home with.
Questions
Everything people ask me before they book.
Do I need to know anything about wine?
No. This trip is co-hosted with Nikki Erpelding and Karin Rockstad of Vine Lab Wine & Spirits Academy, and they're both with the group the whole way and happy to answer any of your wine questions.
People come on this kind of trip from every direction: some have certifications, some just like drinking it. Both have a good time.
Who is Vine Lab Wine & Spirits Academy?
A wine and spirits education school that runs certification courses and tastings, and takes small groups into wine regions to learn on the ground. Nikki and Karin design and lead the wine side of this itinerary.
Layovers & Lenses handles flights and any other logistics requested before and after your hosted trip. If you're interested in extending your stay, Layovers & Lenses can arrange for that.
How many people will be on the trip?
Between 10 and 14. That's the size the bus, the tasting rooms and the tavernas are built for, and it's small enough that you'll know everyone's name by day two.
Why does the price change with group size?
Fixed costs — the bus, the driver, the host — get split across the group. At 14 travelers it's $4,600 per person, at 12 it's $4,700, and at 10 it's $4,900. Your balance payment in February 2027 is set once we know the final number, so the price can only move in your favour as the group fills.
What's the pace? How much walking is there?
Comfortable but not idle. Expect some early starts for ferries, a few hours on the bus on transfer days, and a fair amount of walking on uneven ground — the Acropolis, Epidaurus, vineyards, the old towns of Nauplion and Chania.
If you can manage a few miles a day and a flight of stairs without dreading it, you'll be fine. For anyone that uses a wheelchair, accommodations will be made.
What are the overnight ferries actually like?
Better than people expect. Greek inter-island ferries are large, stable ships; we're in private two-berth cabins with their own bathroom, and there are restaurants and bars on board. You board in the evening, sleep, and wake up in a new place — two of the eight nights are spent this way.
I'd be traveling solo. Is that going to be awkward?
Solo travelers are usually the ones who get the most out of these trips. The rate is based on double occupancy — the single supplement is $475 for the whole trip and you can add it with your final payment. If you'd like to share a room, we can help pair you with another solo traveler.
What's the weather like in Greece in April?
Spring, and one of the best times to be there. Athens and Crete usually sit in the high 60s to low 70s Fahrenheit during the day, cooler in the highlands around Tripoli and cool on deck at night. Bring layers, a light rain jacket, and shoes you can walk marble streets in.
How do payments work?
Three installments. $500 to secure your place by September 15, 2026; $2,000 by November 15, 2026; and the balance by February 15, 2027, once the final group size is set. If you want a single room, the $475 supplement is added to the final payment.
What happens if I need to cancel?
All cancellations need to be in writing. September 16–November 30, you're refunded your deposit less a $225 administrative fee. December 1–January 14, less a $325 fee. January 15–February 28, 50% of the total per-person rate is refunded. March 1–14, 20%. From March 15 to the departure date there's no refund — which is exactly what travel insurance is for.
Do I need travel insurance?
It isn't required, but for a trip with this payment schedule I'd strongly encourage it, and I'd rather you buy it early — most policies only cover pre-existing conditions if you purchase within a couple of weeks of your first deposit. Ask me and I'll point you at options.
Can you book my flights, or extra time in Greece?
Yes — that's the part I do. Flights to Athens are on your own arrangement, but I can book them for you at good rates, and I can build extra days before or after the trip: the islands, Delphi, Thessaloniki, or a few slow days in Athens. Tell me early and it's easy.
How much should I budget for tips and extras?
Gratuities are optional; 3–4 euros per day each for the hosts and the driver is the customary range. Beyond that, budget for the meals that aren't included, lunch and dinner on your free evenings, and whatever wine you can't leave behind.
Can I ship wine home?
Yes, and most people do. Some wineries ship directly to the US; otherwise there are shippers in Athens and Heraklion who handle it properly. We'll talk through the options and the duty rules on the trip — and leave room in your suitcase either way.
Limited seats
Fourteen seats, four wine regions, one spring.
Tell me you're interested and I'll send the full trip details, the booking link and the payment schedule. No pressure, no automated funnel — you'll be talking to me.