FAQ

Answers to your most frequently asked questions about wine tasting in Chania with Chania Wine Tours.

If you don’t see your question, by all means, send us an email at info@chaniawinetours.com or send us a message via Viber or Whatsapp at +306980462427.

How do I pay?

Prepayment is not required for all tours. If you’d like to pay ahead, payment can be paid at the time of booking by clicking on the Pay Now option in your confirmation form. Alternatively,  payment can be made at the completion of the tour. We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Paypal and offer at 10% for cash transactions.

Who will be my guide?

Chania Wine Tours is owned and operated by husband and wife, Vasili and Anna Maria. Vasili is a vineyard owner and winemaker. Anna Maria is a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers. Vasili will meet you at his vineyards for the Wine, Olive Oil, and Honey Tour. Anna Maria will be your guide for any private tours- Wine Adventure, Wine Lovers, or Farm-to-Table Lunch at Dourakis Winery. In 2023, we hired our first employee, Anastasia. Anastasia is Greek-American just like us and has been a dear friend for decades. She brings her unique perspective to our tours and we’re so happy to have her on the team. You’ll get to meet Anastasia for the Wine Dinner Under the Stars tour as well as the Wine Tasting Walking Tour. For our half day tours, you’ll get to spend your time with Gianni, a local Cretan with years in the hospitality world. Our newest teammate is George, another Greek-American. George will be your driver and guide for the beginning of the Wine, Olive Oil, and Honey tour. The Chania Wine Tours teams conducts the wine tasting ourselves at the wineries.

Where do we meet for the Wine Discovery Tour?

The Wine Discovery Tour meets at 1pm at the Municipal Market east parking lot, Plateia Markopoulou. Please arrive 5 minutes before the start of the tour. Look for a yellow, green, or gray van with the Chania Wine Tours logo on the back window. 

Where do we meet for the Wine Tasting Walking Tour?

The Wine Tasting Walking Tour of Old Town Chania meets at Anassa Boutique Hotel & Cafe at 11am.

Will my group tour be cancelled if it doesn’t fill up?

Our tours must operate with at least 2 people (exception is the Boozy Brunch which is minimum 4). If you are a solo traveler, we are happy to have you on any of our group tours. If on the off-chance that no one else books, we’ll ask that you be flexible with another day or tour. We will do our best to accommodate you.

What if I’m staying outside of Chania?

We operate exclusively within Chania Prefecture. We cannot pick up from Rethymno or Heraklio.

For private tours, pick up is from as far north as Kounoupidiana, east as far as Souda, and west as far as Platanias.

For group tours with pick up (Wine, Olive Oil, and Honey Tour & the Wine Dinner Under the Stars) pick up is limited to Chania Town and the immediately surrounding areas. Chania’s highway system is under major construction with many road closures causing severe delays and pick up outside this area is no longer possible. Pick up is as far north as Chalepa, as far east as Souda (including the cruise port), and west as Stalos. Even within these areas, we will ask to meet in central locations to accommodate as many guests as possible and streamline the day.

If you are staying outside of this area and would still like to participate in these tours, we will ask you to meet us in Chania Town at one of the municipal free parking lots.

Exceptions! If you are a larger group of 4+ guests, we can pick up from some further points as you will be the majority of the passengers on the tour. Private tours have much more flexibility with pick up areas so please message me and I will verify your pick up zone.

We apologize for any inconveniences: the congestion and construction is out of our hands. We do ask that you be patient if you are the second or third pick up of the day because, inevitably, there will be delays.

Please email me or message me on Whatsapp with any questions you have about your pick up location. info@chaniawinetours.com +306980462427

What time do tours begin?

Wine Lovers Tour

We will arrive at your hotel or villa at 9:30am. If you are staying in the pedestrian-only area of Chania, pick up will be from Talos Square or Plateia Markopoulou, depending on which is closer to you.

Wine Adventure Tour

We will arrive at your hotel or villa at 8:45am. If you are staying in the pedestrian-only area of Chania, pick up will be from Talos Square or Plateia Markopoulou, depending on which is closer to you.

Farm-to-Table Lunch at Dourakis

Pick up for the Farm to Table Lunch at Dourakis is at 10:30am from your hotel or villa. If you’re staying in the pedestrian-only section of Chania, pick up will either be at Talos Square or Plateia Markopoulou, depending on which one is closer to you.

Wine, Olive Oil, and Honey Tour

We start pick ups for this tour at 9:30am. Transportation is shared, so pick up times may vary. If your pick up time needs to be adjusted, we will email you the day before the tour. Since this is a group tour, we may ask you to meet in a location close to all guests. If you’re staying in the pedestrian-only section of Chania, pick up will either be at Talos Square or Plateia Markopoulou.

Boozy Brunch at Biolea

Pick up is at 9am from your hotel or villa. If you are staying in the pedestrian-only area of Chania, pick up will be from Talos Square or Plateia Markopoulou, depending on which is closer to you.

Wine Discovery Tour

This tour meets at Plateia Markopoulou at 1pm. Please give yourself plenty of time to find parking if you are driving into town for this tour. Although Plateia Markopoulou is a parking lot, it rarely has empty spots.

The Boutique Olive Oil and Winery Tour

This tour meets at Plateia Markopoulou at 10:30am. Please give yourself plenty of time to find parking if you are driving into town for this tour. Although Plateia Markopoulou is a parking lot, it rarely has empty spots.

Wine Tasting Walking Tour Old Town Chania

This tour meets at 11am at Anassa Boutique Hotel and Cafe.

​Wine Dinner Under the Stars

Wine Dinner Under the Stars begins at 18:30. You will be picked up from your hotel or villa. If you are staying in the pedestrian-only section of Old Town, pick up will either be from Plateia Markopoulou or Talos Square. Transportation is shared, so pick up times may vary. If your pick up time needs to be adjusted, we will email you the day before the tour.

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Where do we meet for private tours?

We pick you up and drop you off from your hotel/villa/airbnb. If your hotel is in the pedestrian-only section of Chania Old Town, a meeting spot will be emailed to you.  

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What’s your cancellation policy?

If you have prepaid for a tour and must cancel, we ask that we are notified as soon as possible. If a cancellation is requested more than 48 hours before the start of the tour, a full refund, minus any transaction fees, will be issued. No refunds for cancellations made within 48 hours of the start of the tour. We understand that $*%# happens while traveling and we’ll do our best to be reasonable and understanding of emergencies. Please also consider that we are a small business and last minute cancellations do affect us. No refunds under any circumstances for no call, no shows. 

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Should we eat before our tour?

Yes! We start the wine tasting pretty early so it’s a great idea to have something in your belly before we begin. A big breakfast is always a good idea.  

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Can you accommodate large groups?

Yes! We are happy to be a part of your corporate event, pre-wedding activities, or family reunion. We can accommodate groups of all sizes. We’ve done tours as large at 90 people! For groups of 7 or more, a 20% non-refundable deposit is required. 

Can I bring my kids on a wine tour?

The best tour for kids is the Wine, Olive Oil, and Honey tour. Guests over the age of 14 are charged as adults. Children are also welcome on any of the private tours. For small group tours, please email us with- 1) the ages of your children, 2) the tour you’re interested in, & 3) the date you’re interested in, and we will do our best to accommodate them.

​What should I bring with me on the tour?

In the summer months: a hat, sunscreen, and water are recommended. For the Wine, Olive Oil, and Honey tour, closed-toe shoes and long pants are recommended but not required (for the bees). Any shoes with a heel are not a good idea because of uneven pavements and walking in nature.

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