Lyrarakis Winery & Tasting Room

Lyrarakis Winery is undoubtedly a very attractive destination, beautifully situated among vineyards in the heart of Crete. The setting is impressive and provides a pleasant environment for a wine tasting experience. The wines are of high quality, well-structured, and clearly reflect the character of local grape varieties. The tasting offers an interesting insight into the region’s winemaking tradition, demonstrating both technical expertise and long-standing experience. The food served was good and carefully presented; however, the pricing appears relatively high in comparison to the portion sizes. While the overall experience is positive, the atmosphere of the venue feels somewhat formal and exclusive. At times, it gives the impression that the winery primarily targets a very affluent clientele, rather than welcoming a broader range of visitors who wish to explore local vineyards and enjoy wine culture in a relaxed manner. There is a certain lack of warmth and accessibility that one would normally expect in Greece, a country well known for its hospitality. A more open and approachable approach could significantly enhance the guest experience and make visitors feel more comfortable and genuinely welcomed. In summary: ✔ high-quality wines ✔ beautiful location ✔ good food ✖ relatively high prices ✖ atmosphere that may feel overly formal or exclusive Overall, Lyrarakis Winery remains a worthwhile place to visit, particularly for wine enthusiasts. With a slightly more inclusive and welcoming atmosphere, it could offer an even stronger and more memorable experience for a wider range of guests.

We discovered this winery by chance and were so glad we stopped. Even without a booking, they quickly arranged a tour for us – we only waited about 15 minutes. The introduction about the winemaking process and local grape varieties was fascinating. The wine tasting was fantastic – five different wines served in a beautiful pergola with stunning views. The food was also delicious, and the service was outstanding. A wonderful experience with warm hospitality – highly recommended!

Very cool Wine-Tasting with really gentle people, describing you the different flavours of the wine. We were there when it was the last opening day of the Winery and they started to grill meat which they served us too while tasting the dark red wine. Really Nice - thank you 😊👌

I have visited this place for two different events, one being a wedding. Lyrarakis winery is one of the best in Crete and it's always a pleasure to taste their wines. The events were well organised and the venue is ideal for such a celebration. A little more attention to detail is needed, such as ironing the tablecloths.

I visited this vineyard as part of a bachelorette celebration with a group of 8 women, and it was truly an unforgettable experience! From the moment we arrived, the setting was absolutely stunning. Lush vines, beautiful views, and countless picture-perfect spots that made for amazing group and individual photos. We started with a guided tour of the vineyard and winery, where we learned about the entire winemaking process, including a fascinating explanation about the barrels and aging. Our guide was awesome, extremely knowledgeable, engaging, and had a great sense of humor, which made the experience even more enjoyable. After the tour, we did the picnic experience, and the food was beyond amazing. We were served a generous spread that included warm pita, a variety of cheeses, rice/meat stuffed in leaves/flowers, crispy fried zucchini balls, and a unique dessert made with cheese stuffed in pita and sweetened with syrup. Sooo good! The wine tasting was also super fun. We tried a great selection of wines including white, rosé, red, and a sparkling wine, which ended up being everyone’s favorite. Each wine was thoughtfully explained, and the quality was exceptional. We ended up leaving with about 8 bottles (possibly more!) to take home—more than enough for our group of eight, that was included in our experience. The entire day was full of laughter, amazing food and wine, and stunning scenery. It was the perfect combination of fun, relaxation, and a bit of education about the winemaking process. This vineyard experience definitely set the tone for a memorable weekend and was one of the highlights of our trip. Highly recommend for any group looking for a unique and joyful outing!

We came without any reservation, and after they say we need to wait 1 hour for any chance to stay until they confirm is there any free table. After negative news for us, they gave us bottle of there vine to taste, with all smile and apologies for trouble. Massive respect to them, and next time we will come more prepared for sure.

As a wine lover and wine snob I always love to try and visit a local vineyard when I travel. After a bit of research I found this place, got in touch with then and as well as booking a tour and tasting they put me in touch with a great taxi company who provides us return transport as a fair price. The tour was short with some good information before we moved to the tasting. The setting and views are lovely and food was good. We ended up trying 9 different varieties of wine, my only complaint would be that I would have liked a bit of a heavier pour on each one ha! If you like wine you should visit.

We visited this winery for the picnic package. When we arrived we were offered two glasses of wine to start the tour, the tour was very informative. The best part was the picnic where we were treated like VIP’s, we had our own little spot in the vineyard to sample wines and food. Really unforgettable experience and highly recommend.