Rural Crete and Mt. Ida: Wine, Olives, Cheese, and an Historic Village

This unique program focuses on the countryside of Crete to the south and west of Heraklion: its diverse landscape, the production of wine and olive oil, and the making of cheese. We will visit the Alexakis Winery, family-owned and family-run, the largest privately owned winery on the island, where we will enjoy a tour of the production and bottling areas and sample award-winning quality wines. Next we will visit the nearby village of Kalessa to learn about olives and extra virgin olive oil. From here we will journey west to historic Anogia set in the eastern sector of Mt. Ida, where villagers continue to dress in traditional Cretan garb and extend warm hospitality to their visitors. After a lunch of delicious Anogian lamb, we will drive the high road into the heart of Ida to meet shepherds in their mitato-dwellings and participate in making cheese the old mountain way.

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