Once the ship moors in the port of Katakolon you get instantly caught by the magic of the Peloponnese peninsula.
It constitutes the southernmost part of mainland Greece and, as it is connected by the Isthmus of Corinth, where the Corinth Canal was constructed in 1893, it is referred to as an island. An island with fascinating landscape, amazing beaches and mild climate, with great history and wine culture since antiquity.
Katakolon, a small seaside town overlooking the Ionian Sea is the second most visited cruise port in Greece.
It serves as a starting spot for many legendary tours around the area, that includes the most famous Ancient Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games.
What most visitors of Katakolon do not know is that while being there, they can experience a most exclusive wine tour that follows the track of the contemporary wine history of Greece.
The place is Patras, capital of the Peloponnesian prefecture of Achaia and the destination is the emblematic Achaia Clauss Winery and Museum.
The Achaia Clauss winery was founded in 1861 by Gustav Clauss who was enchanted by the fertility of the Achaian land and the quality of its vineyards.
With passion and talent, he established a whole estate that, every year since then, gives work to hundreds of locals.
The Château gradually became one of the most historical and emblematic homes in Greece for legendary wines, like the sweet Mavrodaphne and the renowned Demestica.
The quality and uniqueness of the Achaia Clauss labels won fame and prestige by wine connoisseurs all over the world.
Today, the fine products of Achaia Clauss are made in its’ state-of-the-art new winery that is located just a few kilometers away from the historic facilities.
By joining the Wine Connoisseurs luxury tour to this monumental site, you will enjoy an unparalleled experience.
The Wine Connoisseurs, among other, has the exclusive privilege to offer wine tastings in the famous cave cellars of Achaia Clauss or in its founder’s private villa, nowadays operating as a museum and VIP room tasting.
The tour is an out of the box wine experience that starts with a ride, in TWC’s private van along the West side of Peloponnese, leading to Patras, the third most significant Greece’s city.
The surrounding wine area hosts four quality-wine appellations PDO that covers excellent wines, produced from white and red varieties, such as the exquisite Mavrodaphne.
Tour members will then follow the path of Château Achaia Clauss, a winery which has a 160 years’ history and is the first and only wine Château in Greece!
The host will guide visitors through the Wine Cellar No10, one of Achaia Claus’s oldest buildings, with a total of 167 Mavrodaphne barrels and a capacity of 1,975 to 13,195 liters.
Four of the barrels are carved from famous sculptors with representations from Greek mythology.
At the end of the tour, which also features the tasting of six selected and premium wines, the group will enjoy a scenic drive to a seaside restaurant for the ultimate five-course experience matched to fine wines specially selected to suit each dish.
If there is enough time, there will be also a visit in the busy city of Patras, for a cup of coffee and a mouth-watering loukoumi sweet or a ride to view the magnificent bridge of at Rio!
The unique, most exciting luxury tour in Achaia Clauss starts at the port of Katakolon and ends at the same spot, early enough for any traveling passengers to board the cruise ship, or for anyone else to return to their villa or hotel, located at the greater area of the west side of Peloponnese.
