Wine Tasting in Corinth, Greece

When I think of “wine countries,” my mind immediately goes to France, South Africa, Chile, Australia, California…
Greece doesn’t even come to mind.

Strange, really—because back in antiquity, the Greeks were among the largest wine producers in the region. Their ancient techniques still form the foundation of modern wine culture today. Greek mythology and history are soaked in wine references: the god of wine, Dionysus, was revered and celebrated, and wine played a vital role in everyday life and ritual.

I knew all this from history and Latin classes in high school, yet somehow I still found myself surprised that good Greek wine exists. I guess it just isn’t promoted much internationally.

Curious to see (and taste) for myself, I decided to join a wine tour from Athens to Corinth, hoping to sample what was once known as the nectar of the gods.

I’m usually not a fan of bus tours, but this one had a few things going for it: the tour was leaving from Athens, making a few stops in the old city of Corinth and finishing off in the countryside taking us to two wineries.

Since it was too far to drive myself (and wine-tasting and driving don’t mix), I figured I’d give it a go.

Our guide, Stella, made the ride worthwhile. She kept us entertained with local myths and personal anecdotes, including one about the 70’s when farmers in the region experienced a food shortage. As a solution to keep the energy up druing the long days of labour on the field, they added wine to their milk to boost their calorie intake—yes, even for kids, before their long daily walk to school. Wild.

We arrived at the Seméli winery. Beautifully set on a hilltop with sweeping views over the Peloponnesian countryside.

We were given the full grand tour—from vineyards to fermentation tanks to the bottling and labeling lines. By the time we reached the storage cellar, all anyone could think was: “Wine. Must. Taste. Now.”

We began with a crisp white and worked our way up to a mature, robust red. Now, I’m no sommelier, so I won’t pretend to break down the tasting notes. But I can say I found them exquisite. My fellow tour members agreed. I even bought their most expensive bottle—the reserve red—which was a steal at only €8. If I hadn’t been backpacking and flying out the next day, I would’ve stocked up on their white and rosé too.

After the tasting, we were served a light lunch of fresh Greek staples—simple, satisfying, perfect.

Unfortunately, just on our way to the second winery, Stella received a call:
They could no longer accommodate us due to an unexpected event. Major bummer. Especially since we could have spent more time at Seméli.

It’s moments like this that remind me why I’m not fond of tours—you lose that freedom and flexibility.

Still, we managed to salvage the mood by convincing Stella and the bus driver to make an impromptu countryside stop. A glass of wine in the sun would have helped, but the fresh air and open landscapes came close.

I loved the whole wine tasting experience, just like I thought I would. I’ll definitely do it again in the next wine country I visit.

Am I a bus tour convert? Nope. But thanks to the fun group and stellar storytelling, this one turned out better than expected.

Besides, there really isn’t another practical way to enjoy a wine tasting unless you’re staying at the vineyard overnight—so sometimes, a tour is the best option.

You can visit Seméli independently though, just make an appointment by contacting them. Order lunch with them or bring your own. If you would like a day tour from Athens (including wine, lunch and a visit to ancient Corinth and Nemea), there are several companies offering the same tour with prices ranging from €77 to €100 per adult.

This tour was offered to me by the association of tourist guides as part of TBEX activities.

Have you taken a wine tasting tour before? Where was it?

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