Top islands for wine and cheese lovers

Are you a traveler who enjoys trying new flavors? Do you have a weakness for a fine glass of wine accompanied by a mouthwatering cheese plate? Are you a wine-tasting enthusiast?

Every Greek island is a wine-and-cheese paradise. Some of the most best wines in Greece, as well as traditional Greek cheeses that you will find in the best deli food stores, are produced in the Aegean and Ionian islands. Discover 5+1 Greek islands where you can find the most tasty wines, sophisticated wineries and special cheeses:

• Crete
• Lemnos
• Kefalonia
• Samos
• Santorini
• Sikinos

Traditional colorful wine jugs

1. Crete

Among the Greek islands, Crete is probably the most important wine country, with a significant wine production and variety. Some of the best wine varieties, classic or up-and-coming, that you have to try on the island, are:

• The rich red of Sitia
• The fruity white Vidiano, from the Rethymno aerea
• The mellow, yellow-green Thrapsithari
• The sweet Romeiko
• The aromatic, sour Moschato Spinas
• The cherry-red Kotsifiali

As for Cretan cheeses… they are countless! Apart from Crete’s most well-known cheeses, such as (xino)mizithra, graviera and kefalotyri, we recommend you try staka, present in many savory dishes, Sitia’s xigalo, and the exceptional tyrozouli. You should also try Cretan cheese pies, such as tourtes and pichtogalo bougatsa from Chania.

Tip: for the best wine-tasting trips, some of the best wineries to visit in Crete are the Douloufakis and Lyrarakis wineries, close to Heraklion, and the Dourakis winery, close to Rethymnon.

Sunlit vineyard in Crete

2. Lemnos

In the North Aegean, there is a hidden treasure for wine lovers. In the volcanic soils of Lemnos (or Limnos), grow 2 fine wine varieties: the white Muscat of Alexandria and the red Limnio. These 2 local varieties make aromatic wines, such as several sweet ones of the Muscat of Lemnos label, as well as more full-bodied ones, like the wines of the Limnos label, that you should try on the island.

Among the cheeses of Lemnos, the island’s hard feta and salty kalathaki are the most famous ones. We recommend trying the intense and salty kaskavali, fried (saganaki) or in a salad, as well as flomaria (local pasta) with melichloro cheese.

Tip: don’t miss a tour in the state-of-the-art Limnos Organic Wines winery, to taste and learn everything about the Muscat of Alexandria variety.

Mouthwatering feta, one of Lemnos' most popular cheeses

3. Kefalonia

Moving on to the Ionian Islands and to Kefalonia, one of the most famous wine countries in Greece. There, you will taste the excellent wines of the Robola grape variety: white, dry, citrusy, and flowery. For the most sophisticated Robola wine tasting, we recommend a tour at the Orealios GAEA, the Kefalonian Robola Wine Cooperative.

Then again, if you are a fan of sweeter wines, you will fall in love with Kefalonia’s Mavrodafni and Muscat, produced organically in wineries, such as the Haritatos Vineyard in Lixouri village.

You can accompany your glass(es) of wine with fine white Kefalonian cheese (Kefalonian feta), as well as kefalotyri, graviera, mizithra, and manouromizithra. Don’t leave the island before dipping a rusk in some mouthwatering pretza, an intense creamy cheese with thyme and olive oil.

Tip: for an unforgettable wine-tasting tour in Kefalonia, we recommend visiting the Gentilini Winery & Vineyards, which offer great hospitality and affordable prices.

Sunset view and glasses with local wine at a restaurant in Kefalonia

4. Samos

Moving back to the North Aegean and to the magical Samos. The island has a long cultural history, but also a long tradition in wine-making. You will, of course, honor the award-winning sweet and semi-sweet wines of the Muscat of Samos variety, which are flowery, spicy and fruity. If you are a dedicated wine lover, don’t miss a tour in the Samos Wine Museum in Megalari, where you will taste some exceptional Muscat and other special Samian wines made from the Fokiano, Avgoustiatis and Ritino varieties.

Samos also produces excellent local dairy products, such as armogalo, a mildly spicy cheese with a velvet creamy texture. While on the island, you must also find and try some mild and tasty anthotiro and alami cheese.

Tip: the traditional kremmydolmades (onion layers stuffed with meat) with armogalo cheese is a must-try Samian delicacy.

Muscat, the grape giving the fine Samian wine

5. Santorini

The volcanic island of Santorini in the Cyclades is the perfect destination for wine tourism in Greece. In Santorini, you can drink plenty of Assyrtiko, made from the island’s royal variety which gives full-bodied, mineral white wines. You should also try the popular sweet and liqueur-like Vinsanto, as well as sweet and dry wines from the Aidani variety, and intense red ones from the Mavrotragano variety.

In the wineries of Santorini, you can enjoy complete wine-tasting experiences and explore the top Santorini wine types and brands. Some of the best wineries in Santorini are:

• Santo Wines: renowned for its excellent Vinsanto wines, it offers walking tours, tastings and a large terrace with caldera view.
• The Artemis Karamolegos winery: it stands out for its restaurant with delicious food, artfully paired with wines.
• The Vassaltis Vineyards. it offer tours, tastings in their cellar, as well as lunch and dinner options, including pairing menus.

Don’t leave Santorini before you try chlorotyri, the island’s local cheese. Produced in small quantities by locals and hard to find outside the island, it is creamy, light and a yummy bread spread or salad ingredient.

Tip: for more cheese tasting, we recommend an island hopping trip around the Cyclades. Visit Naxos for some fine graviera, Mykonos for kopanisti and Syros for San Michali.

With this incredible view… wine tastes sweeter!

+1 Sikinos

Not far from Santorini, in the north-west, you will find Sikinos, a lesser-known island in the Cyclades where you can enjoy quiet holidays. It is also one of the best Greek islands for wine tasting! The island has always produced high-quality wine, which is why it was called Oenoe ("the place that produces wine") in ancient times.

We recommend you book a wine tour and tasting at the Manalis Winery, operating at organic vineyards, to try the En Thermo and En Lefko labels, made from local grape varieties, such as Liosato. At the winery’s veranda, you will dine at a restaurant with a view.

The small Sikinos offers a large variety of local cheeses to pair with your glass of wine, such as the soft arseniko of Sikinos, the tasty xinogalo (sour creamy cheese) and mizithra cheese.

Tip: is Sikinos starting to sound like the perfect destination for your next vacation? Discover 4 reasons to visit Sikinos this summer.

Greek salad + a glass of rosé = match made in heaven!

Plates with white and yellow cheese slices, bread dipped in creamy textures, and a glass of chill aromatic wine to wash away the saltiness… Choose the island where you will enjoy traditional Greek wine and cheese combos, and quench your thirst for traveling with ferry tickets online on Ferryhopper, with no hidden fees!