The 7 Best Wineries Near Heraklion

Greece is a country known for its wineries, and given its sun-baked climate year-round, especially on the island of Crete, where the city of Heraklion is found, it’s little surprise that the grapes grown in the Greek sunshine produce such fantastic wines.

Many of the vineyards and wineries dotted on the outskirts of Heraklion have a rich history, because the island is one of the oldest inhabited islands in the world, with evidence of human civilisation on the island dating back around 6,000 years. While you might struggle to find a wine this old, there are nevertheless some incredible wineries near Heraklion. Here are 7 of the best.

Where to find the best wineries around Heraklion

1. Lyrarakis Winery

This family-run winery, approximately 24km from Heraklion, has been under the control of the Lyrarakis family since 1966.

Their aim is to make a Greek wine revival – while many people are familiar with French, South African and Australian wines, Greek wine is often overlooked in the grand scheme of things – but the Lyrarakis Winery is here to change that.

They have even gone so far as to revive rare grape varieties native to Crete – their portfolio includes the use of 11 native varieties of grapes, and they have even saved three of these from extinction.

Not only that, but there is also a huge focus on sustainability at Lyrarakis Winery, where they have stopped ploughing the ground altogether, and the fertiliser they use is made entirely of organic waste from their onsite kitchens. To combat climate change, they have moved to higher altitudes, to take advantage of the generally wetter climate to save on actively using water, simply opting for natural rainfall instead.

If you’re a wine lover with a passion for history and sustainability, you simply have to visit Lyrarakris Winery.

2. Agelakis Winery

Around a 40-minute drive from Heraklion, you can find the stunning Agelakis Winery.

Nestled in the quiet village of Thrapsano, this winery is surrounded by both olive groves and vineyards and produces some of the finest wine on the island.

Their wine has a unique flavour and taste thanks to the way that it is produced, as they have taken a leaf out of their local history books.

Thrapsano is a village that has been known for its pottery production since Antiquity, and this long-standing relationship between Thrapsano and its pottery-making inspired Agelakis Winery to revive this ancient tradition of part-fermenting the grapes in clay vessels. This completes a full circle, as the grapes “return” to the soil where they came from.

History aside, the range of whites, reds and even their own rosé wine are simply incredible – whether you want a cool, crisp white with some seafood and a Greek salad or a hearty red with some herb-crusted lamb chops or a big juicy steak, you’ll definitely find the perfect wine for you at Agelakis Winery.

3. Thalassinos Microwinery

Just 20 minutes from central Heraklion is Thalassinos Winery – a microwinery specialising in natural wines.

While they don’t have the biggest vineyards to choose from (hence being a microwinery), they prioritise quality over quantity. All of the grapes for all of their wines are harvested by hand, which means that the amount of bottles they produce ranges greatly, depending on the season and how many grapes they can actually harvest.

Estimates are usually around 400-800 bottles of each of their wines per year, making them quite hard to come by, but worth the price and the chance of sipping one.

For those who don’t necessarily want to commit to purchasing one of these highly sought-after wines, the winery offers private dining as well as wine tasting events throughout the year, so you can always sample some at one of these events instead, but we think you’ll still end up buying a bottle because they’re that good!

4. Douloufakis Winery

In the village of Dafnes, just a few kilometres south of Heraklion, is Douloufakis Winery. 

While they offer a range of international wines, including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, their speciality is not just Greek wine, but indigenous Cretan wine: Vilana, Malvasia, Liatiko and Kotsifali to name just a few.

Nikos Douloufakis is the third-generation winemaker who runs and owns the Douloufakis Winery, which was established under his grandfather three generations ago. Their small team are all wine experts, so you’re in safe hands whether you’re in for a tasting or to purchase some of their excellent wines.

Their catalogue includes 21 different wines, ranging from dry, sweet and sparkling – so we can guarantee that there’s something here to suit every palate.

5. Alexakis Winery

Less than a 20-minute drive from central Heraklion is Alexakis Winery, which is the largest private winery on the island of Crete.

They claim that they have worked with all the winegrowers on the island, and given that they’ve been around for over 5 decades, it’s easy to believe that this is the case. This, combined with excellent resources, ensures that they are one of the best wineries near Heraklion, and arguably, on the island.

Despite all of the winegrowers that they have collaborated with over the years, they also emphasise quality over quantity, only using seven varieties of grapes (five white, two red).

They specialise in Cretan wines, so if you want something local that you’re unlikely to taste anywhere else, we highly recommend a visit to Alexakis Winery.

6. Minos Wines

Named after the mythological King of Crete, Minos, who himself was a son of Zeus, this winery is also the stuff of legend, producing some of the finest wines on the island.

Just 17km south of Heraklion, in the beautiful Peza Valley, can be found Minos Wines. The sun-soaked hillsides are lined with grapevines, which produce some of the juiciest grapes in Greece – half the battle is transporting them to be made into wine without eating them all first!

They also specialise in Cretan wines, producing no less than seven whites and three reds, as well as delving into international wines for those who have their favourites that they like to stick to.

The winery has been firmly established on Crete since the 19th century, and visitors to the winery are greeted at the gates by a bicycle from pre-World War Two. This bicycle was originally used to transport wines from Minos Wines to Heraklion! If a 17km bike ride in the baking hot sunshine doesn’t sound appealing, then a glass or two of their wine inside the air-conditioned winery overlooking the gorgeous vineyards certainly will.

7. Diamantakis Winery

If top-quality, award-winning wines are your thing, then you simply must pay a visit to Diamantakis Winery. Just 40 minutes from Heraklion, in the grapevine-lined hills of Kato Asites on the foothills of Mount Psiloritis, is one of the best wineries on Crete.

In fact, their Petali Assyrtiko has been awarded the Gold Medal at the Thessaloniki Wine & Spirits Trophy 2025, so you know that they know what they’re doing when it comes to producing high-quality, delicious wines.

Combining modern methods with sustainability efforts and traditional grape-growing and wine-making practices, Diamantakis Winery is a leader not just in wine production, but in sustainability, too. They take the natural microclimate of the region into account, making the most of the north-facing hills, which are blessed with a cooling sea breeze to assist with the growth of their grapes, which sit at an altitude of 250-700m above sea level.

Enjoy some of the best Cretan wine from their winery, sitting outside under the hot sunshine and enjoying stunning views over the Cretan Sea, with even better wine to accompany the view – we can’t think of many better ways to enjoy a holiday in Heraklion than this.