A hop, skip and car ride away from Athens will take you to one of the most beautiful wine regions in Greece: Nemea. Nemea’s rolling hills and moderate climate make ideal conditions for grape growing & harvesting of Old World Wine.

With around 40 wineries spread across 22,000 acres, we decided to make a day trip from Athens to explore and taste away…!

You can expect a drive of about 1.5 hours, which passes by quickly, and you can select to tour a mix of wineries from small & local, to bigger producers with a wider distribution.

We planned private tour at one of the larger wineries, Semeli Estate, hosting incredible facilities and perfectly poised on top of a beautiful hill.

Our private tour kicked off with a warm Greek welcome from our Sommelier, and straight to the back to “experience” the entire process of wine making – from the vineyards, to the barreling, bottling & even the scientists’ lab~ !

Snaps from inside the winery production process !

The best part of the tour of course was when we gathered back in the beautiful entrance hall & tasting area, where 5 different varieties were waiting for us to pair with local cheeses. With a hands on learning approach for the tasting. We discussed the smells and intricacies of each bottle and concluded with a very special Grand Reserve Wine Selection (a bottle or two may have made their way back home with us too)..!

What was left from our wine tasting & pairing!

Aside from their private tours, Semeli has also created beautiful spaces within their winery which are perfect for hosting small parities, private group tastings and private dinner parties.

Of course after all that wine tasting one can build quite an appetite and the region has many local tavernas which you can enjoy fresh vegetables and locally grown meats. If you’re in the mood for further exploration, the cozy town of Nafplio is about a 55 minute drive away, with plenty of cafes, restaurants and fish taverns sitting on the port.

Interested in something more off-the-beaten-path? Let us know since we’ve got the local secrets & tips we can’t wait to share with you.