Wine tasting tour northern Greece 6 days 5 nights
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HOLIDAY center ....Ταξιδεύεις με την ψυχή, το μυαλό & το σώμα "HOLIDAY CENTER LTD" 43, Mitropoleos street, Maroussi 151 24 Athens, Greece Tel.:+30 210 61 40 225 Fax:+30 210 61 41 052 Mob.:+30 6981 333 804 www.holiday-center.gr e-mail: [email protected] About Holiday Center: Holiday Center offers an ideal selection of coach-guided tours to the most known places in Greece. Join us in an unforgettable quest and experience the fascinating Ancient sites combined with the charm of modern-day Greece.
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Transcript of Wine tasting tour northern Greece 6 days 5 nights
HOLIDAY center ....Ταξιδεύεις με την ψυχή, το μυαλό & το σώμα
"HOLIDAY CENTER LTD" 43, Mitropoleos street, Maroussi 151 24 Athens, Greece
Tel.:+30 210 61 40 225 Fax:+30 210 61 41 052 Mob.:+30 6981 333 804 www.holiday-center.gr e-mail: [email protected]
About Holiday Center:
Holiday Center offers an ideal selection of coach-guided tours to the most known places in Greece.
Join us in an unforgettable quest and experience the fascinating Ancient sites combined with the charm of modern-day Greece.
HOLIDAY center ....Ταξιδεύεις με την ψυχή, το μυαλό & το σώμα
"HOLIDAY CENTER LTD" 43, Mitropoleos street, Maroussi 151 24 Athens, Greece
Tel.:+30 210 61 40 225 Fax:+30 210 61 41 052 Mob.:+30 6981 333 804 www.holiday-center.gr e-mail: [email protected]
WINERY TOUR NORTHERN GREECE (7 DAYS-6 NIGHTS
(THESSALONIKI-KAVALA-VERGINA-NAOUSSA-VERIA-MOUNT OLYMPUS-
METEORA-THESSALONIKI)
Day 1: Thessaloniki (Sightseeing)
Arrival at Macedonia Airport in Thessaloniki with International flight from Israel. Meet & greet by our Guide and our Driver, and immediate set-off for a small tour in
the City of Thessaloniki. A city tour that you will never forget. Thessaloniki is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia,
as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace. Its honorific title is Συμπρωτεύουσα (Symprotévusa), literally "co-capital" and stands as
a reference to its historical status as the Συμβασιλεύουσα (Symvasilévousa), "co-reigning" city of the Eastern Roman Empire, alongside Constantinople. Our guide will
show you the amazing and very famous White Tower.
The present Tower replaced an old Byzantine fortification which was mentioned around the 12th Century and reconstructed by the Ottomans to fortify the City’s harbor. It later became a notorious prison and scene of mass executions during the period of Ottoman rule. We will also bring you to admire the Kamara (Arch) and the rest of the City landmarks.
After the Tour we will check in to the hotel. Your evening is free for a walk in the City, where you can visit the traditional shops and later you can also visit the Casino of the City (Hyatt Regency Casino Thessaloniki, a short distance from the center).
HOLIDAY center ....Ταξιδεύεις με την ψυχή, το μυαλό & το σώμα
"HOLIDAY CENTER LTD" 43, Mitropoleos street, Maroussi 151 24 Athens, Greece
Tel.:+30 210 61 40 225 Fax:+30 210 61 41 052 Mob.:+30 6981 333 804 www.holiday-center.gr e-mail: [email protected]
Day 2: Thessaloniki – Goumenissa – Epanomi (Winery visits)
After having our breakfast at the hotel we will drive northwest, towards the mountainous village of Goumenissa. Here we will stop at the famous Filiria Estate.
The Boutari Winery in the mountains of Goumenissa, situated north-west of Thessaloniki, started to operate in 1984, and was the only Winery in that region for many years. Goumenissa is the center of a region that has been famous for its wines for centuries. Since the early years of Ottoman rule, the people of this area cultivated the Xinomavro and Negoska grape varieties on the slopes of Mount Paiko and the low hills surrounding the small town.
The Boutari estate in Goumenissa is located in the community of Filiria, in the area of Kilkis. The company purchased the specific land at the end of the ‘80s, which, in combination with the operation of the local Boutari winery in 1984, made a decisive contribution to the effort to promote viticulture once again as one of the primary occupations of the region.
The privately-owned Boutari vineyard cultivated according to organic farming standards, was planted in 1991. Today the Filiria Estate is a model vineyard in the area but also in Greece overall.
The total area of the estate is 6.6 hectares, 5.5 of which are covered by the vineyard. It is one of the most densely-planted vineyards in the region, with over 4000 vines per hectare, is western-facing, with an altitude that reaches 187 metres. The climate is continental with a particularly cold winter and strong northern winds. The soils of the vineyard are limestone, dry, with good drainage, and one can observe several variations regarding their depth and composition.
The largest area is planted with Xinomavro and Negoska, the two principal local varieties, but there are other varieties under experimentation, such as Chardonnay, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, which have shown great adaptability and excellent results.
HOLIDAY center ....Ταξιδεύεις με την ψυχή, το μυαλό & το σώμα
"HOLIDAY CENTER LTD" 43, Mitropoleos street, Maroussi 151 24 Athens, Greece
Tel.:+30 210 61 40 225 Fax:+30 210 61 41 052 Mob.:+30 6981 333 804 www.holiday-center.gr e-mail: [email protected]
Tour: Through a tour of the Estate and Winery, followed by wine-tasting of the well known Boutari wines of the region, visitors can explore the extensive in depth and breadth knowledge of Boutari in yet another important wine making region in Greece.
We will take the route back to Thessaloniki, and will visit another very significant winery, the Domaine Gerovassiliou.
Domaine Gerovassiliou is a single private vineyard stretching over 56 hectares. The climate in the region of Epanomi is Mediterranean with mild winters and temperate summers, cooled by sea breezes. The vineyard is surrounded by sea on its three sides at a distance of three kilometers, while its west side faces Thermaikos Gulf and Mount Olympus, extending over the beaches of Pieria. The soil is mainly sandy with a few clayey substrates and calcareous rocks. It is rich in sea fossils, since the surrounding hilly area was formed by sea deposits. Impressive are the findings of field surveys conducted by German scientists reporting that the vineyard is inhabited by 28 different bird species. The vineyard is cultivated according to the standards of an Integrated Management System that aims to produce wine grapes following a certified cultivation procedure, meeting all relevant quality and safety requirements and respecting the environment, the vineyard's employees and the consumer. Primary concern is the meticulous care of the vineyard, therefore all rural tasks - including harvest- are done by hand.
Greek and foreign varieties were planted and are being cultivated with great care: Malagousia -first vinified by Vangelis Gerovassiliou- and Assyrtiko -first
HOLIDAY center ....Ταξιδεύεις με την ψυχή, το μυαλό & το σώμα
"HOLIDAY CENTER LTD" 43, Mitropoleos street, Maroussi 151 24 Athens, Greece
Tel.:+30 210 61 40 225 Fax:+30 210 61 41 052 Mob.:+30 6981 333 804 www.holiday-center.gr e-mail: [email protected]
cultivated in the island of Santorini- are the Greek white varieties of the Domaine, while Limnio -an ancient Greek variety also mentioned by Aristotle- Mavroudi and Mavrotragano are the Greek red varieties. Furthermore, French white varieties -Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier- and the red ones -Syrah, Merlot and Grenache Rouge- are being cultivated. In parallel, Domaine Gerovassiliou always attempts new experimental cultivations of both Greek and foreign grapes.
After the visit has been concluded, we will return to our hotel. Evening at leisure. Overnight in Thessaloniki.
Day 3: Mount Olympus – Rapsani Winery - Kalambaka - Meteora
We will have our breakfast at the hotel and we shall start our magic trip by guiding you to the famous mount Olympus, the highest mountain of Greece.
It was also the Capital of the defunct province of the same name. We will drive across mount Olympus, located in the Olympus Range on the border between Thessaly and Macedonia, about 80km southwest from Thessaloniki. Mount Olympus is notable for its very rich flora with several species. It is a National Park of Greece and a World Biosphere Reserve. The picturesque village and the vineyards of Rapsani are nested in the slopes up to 700 meters from the sea level. An ideal place for safeguarding a unique wine making tradition which gives birth to an outstanding deep red wine: the Rapsani wine, the nectar of Gods. The Rapsani winery, located at the valley of Tempi, preserves that local tradition. An example of authentic local architecture hosts the passion of wine making through centuries and some of the tools used, as cemented tanks and oak barrels.
HOLIDAY center ....Ταξιδεύεις με την ψυχή, το μυαλό & το σώμα
"HOLIDAY CENTER LTD" 43, Mitropoleos street, Maroussi 151 24 Athens, Greece
Tel.:+30 210 61 40 225 Fax:+30 210 61 41 052 Mob.:+30 6981 333 804 www.holiday-center.gr e-mail: [email protected]
Access to the vineyards is only possible via dirt roads, an adventurous, yet rewarding ascent; when there, the overwhelming feeling of inner power and absolute freedom is enhanced by the wondrous surroundings and the breathtaking view. After all, you are at the exact same point from where the ancient gods surveyed and ruled the world.
Our magical trip will continue by visiting Kalambaka that is the northwestern terminal of the old Thessaly Railways, now part of the Public Railways.
The City was voted as one of the most beautiful places in Greece. We will visit 2 of the monasteries in Meteora, a renowned landmark ( included in the Unesco World Heritage Monuments) that will make you stand in awe of this natural wonder landscape.
HOLIDAY center ....Ταξιδεύεις με την ψυχή, το μυαλό & το σώμα
"HOLIDAY CENTER LTD" 43, Mitropoleos street, Maroussi 151 24 Athens, Greece
Tel.:+30 210 61 40 225 Fax:+30 210 61 41 052 Mob.:+30 6981 333 804 www.holiday-center.gr e-mail: [email protected]
Many scripts, many stories, mysteries and Religious legends are hiding inside the monasteries of Meteora. After the monastery visits have been concluded, we will return to the City of Kalambaka for check in and overnight at our hotel.
Day 4: Kalambaka – Naoussa – Veria – Vergina – Thessaloniki
After breakfast at the hotel we will leave Kalambaka and take the route back nort, towards Naoussa, one of the most beautiful regions of Macedonia, on the eastern foothills of Mount Vermion. The History of Greek red wine begins...at the Boutari Winery in Naoussa! This winery constitutes an important landmark in the evolution of wine.
A guided tour in the production area, the historical cellar of the Winery and a unique multimedia show, are the best introduction to the history and philosophy of the Boutari company. The history of the company began there, 130 years ago, promoting Greek wine in Greece and abroad, while it has played a leading role in the development of the Greek winemaking ever since.
This is where the wine-vaults are located, an innovative service for consumers store and maintain wines in perfect condition in a personal vault at the Boutari winery; we can also find old vintages (the oldest Greek red wines in the country) and one of the largest cellars of aged wines with over 3,000 barrels.
The vineyards are located on the sunny south-east slopes of Mount Vermio, protected by the cold northern winds. The abundant rainfall and the relatively cool climate play a beneficial role in the development and fruit-bearing of the vines. The soils are marl (clay loam), calcium-rich, ideal for producing wines with a rich body.
The Xinomavro red variety (VQPRD Naoussa) produces exceptional red wines apt to ageing and many different types of wine with their own particular characteristics. During the ‘80s, the cultivation of the foreign varieties Merlot and Syrah also began; their results were impressive and led to the creation of single-variety wines and to
HOLIDAY center ....Ταξιδεύεις με την ψυχή, το μυαλό & το σώμα
"HOLIDAY CENTER LTD" 43, Mitropoleos street, Maroussi 151 24 Athens, Greece
Tel.:+30 210 61 40 225 Fax:+30 210 61 41 052 Mob.:+30 6981 333 804 www.holiday-center.gr e-mail: [email protected]
wonderful blends with Xinomavro. This has proven the potential of the vineyard and its further development in the future. A visit to the winery premises includes a guided tour of the production rooms and the maturation cellars, a presentation about the history of the company and wine, and wine tastings combined with traditional local dishes.
We will then proceed to the important city of Veria. The city is built on the foot of Vermion mountain, and is characterized by the unique traditional architecture in the old part of the city, as well as a multitude of Byzantine churches. Even by the standards of Greece, Veria is an old city; first mentioned in the writings of Thucydides in 432 BC, there is evidence that it was populated as early as 1,000 BC.
Veria was an important possession for Philip II of Macedon (father of Alexander the Great) and later for the Romans. Apostle Paul famously preached in the city, and its inhabitants were among the first Christians in the Empire. Later, under the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, Veria was a center of Greek culture and learning. Today Veria is a commercial center of Central Macedonia, the capital of the regional unit of Imathia and the seat of a metropolitan bishop of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Church of Greece.
After visiting the city of Veria, we will travel to Ancient Pella and we shall visit nearby Vergina. The small town of Vergina became internationally famous in 1977, when the Greek archaeologist Manolis Andronikos unearthed the burial site of the kings of Macedon, including the tomb of Philip II, father of Alexander the Great. The finds established the site as the ancient Aigai.
Late afternoon we will return to our hotel in Thessaloniki for overnight.
HOLIDAY center ....Ταξιδεύεις με την ψυχή, το μυαλό & το σώμα
"HOLIDAY CENTER LTD" 43, Mitropoleos street, Maroussi 151 24 Athens, Greece
Tel.:+30 210 61 40 225 Fax:+30 210 61 41 052 Mob.:+30 6981 333 804 www.holiday-center.gr e-mail: [email protected]
Day 5: Kavala – Philippi - Paggaion
After having our breakfast at the hotel we will depart to Kavala, a prosperous Greek town with a large, beautiful and naturally crafted harbor. This ancient city of Neapolis was visited by Saints Paul, Timothy, Silas and Luke and was renamed Chrisoupolis, the first European city to accept Christianity. Visit the Roman aqueduct and the ruins of the Acropolis.
Continue to Philippi, which was built by Philip II in 358 B.C., and is the place where Paul preached his first sermon and baptized the first Christians on European soil. Later St. Paul was imprisoned in a crypt, which dates back to the Roman period. Visit the famous Acropolis, the Market Place, the Basilica and the Ancient Theater.
We will then resume our day’s journey driving towards the slopes of mount Pangeon
at Kokkinochori, Kavala. In 1998 two distinguished oenologists, Vassilis Tsaktsarlis
and Vangelis Gerovassiliou, created a vineyard of biological cultivation which today
extends to over 350 acres. Within this stretch of land is the modern winery in which
the wines of the Domaine “Biblia Chora” are produced.
The philosophy of the winemaking focuses on the production of high quality wine
that is bind by the ecosystem of mount Pangeon and expresses the uniqueness of the
natural surroundings. To achieve this goal, the cultivation and vinification take place
under special catering, using not only the knowledge and experience but also by
merging tradition with technology.
HOLIDAY center ....Ταξιδεύεις με την ψυχή, το μυαλό & το σώμα
"HOLIDAY CENTER LTD" 43, Mitropoleos street, Maroussi 151 24 Athens, Greece
Tel.:+30 210 61 40 225 Fax:+30 210 61 41 052 Mob.:+30 6981 333 804 www.holiday-center.gr e-mail: [email protected]
The space for wine ageing in oak barrels consists of two rooms of different levels and
architecture. Hundreds of French oak barrels with a capacity of 225l give the red and
some white wines of the Domaine the beneficiary attributes of wood under ideal
maintenance and aging conditions in the stable temperature of 14 degrees and 80%
humidity throughout the year.
After the end of our visit to the “Biblia Chora” Domaine, we will take the route back to Thessaloniki. Overnight.
Day 6: Thessaloniki - departure
Breakfast in the hotel. Morning free for a last walk in the city. Our guide and driver will meet you in the lobby at the pre-appointed time, and you will be transferred to Macedonia airport for your departure flight.
HOLIDAY center ....Ταξιδεύεις με την ψυχή, το μυαλό & το σώμα
"HOLIDAY CENTER LTD" 43, Mitropoleos street, Maroussi 151 24 Athens, Greece
Tel.:+30 210 61 40 225 Fax:+30 210 61 41 052 Mob.:+30 6981 333 804 www.holiday-center.gr e-mail: [email protected]
Thank you!!!
We would like to thank you for choosing our Tour.
Our Guide and Driver will bid you farewell. We hope that you are returning home
with the fondest memories from your trip, and we look forward to seeing you again
in Greece.
HOLIDAY center ....Ταξιδεύεις με την ψυχή, το μυαλό & το σώμα
"HOLIDAY CENTER LTD" 43, Mitropoleos street, Maroussi 151 24 Athens, Greece
Tel.:+30 210 61 40 225 Fax:+30 210 61 41 052 Mob.:+30 6981 333 804 www.holiday-center.gr e-mail: [email protected]
*Rates may vary depending on the period of travel, standard of
accommodation, number of participants etc. Please feel free to contact
our inbound department, to state your exact requirements and be
provided with an accurate quote.
