The olive road · CHEESE
Good cheese tastings take small groups and the best-known ones fill weeks ahead. Below: the 8 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Spend seven hours in rural Crete with a local English-speaking guide, often Linda or Electra. Visit the ancient Olive Tree of Vouves, a bakery, cheese maker, honey and olive-oil producer, and family winery. Tastings include Cretan breads, cheeses, honey, olive oil, local delicacies, and up to 20 wines.
“Our guide was amazing. She truly loves her job. Very enthusiastic and knowledgeable”
Join a small tasting beneath the Acropolis for five Greek wines, five regional cheeses, olives, and bread rusks. Your English-speaking wine expert, such as Tonia, Theo, Anastasia, or Evalina, explains Greek grapes, wine regions, tasting technique, and the stories of Dionysus through a virtual vineyard tour.
“We learned a lot about Greek wine and history of Greek wine, Anastasia was a great teacher and very friendly. Highly recommended if you are into wine”
Start at 5pm in Piazza Torquato Tasso for a 2.5-hour walk through Sorrento’s lanes, history, lemon growing, artisans, and food traditions. Guides such as Nino, Georgia, Sandra, Giovanni, and Alexandra lead tastings of cheese, salami, olives, bruschetta, olive oil, wine, and limoncello. The group is limited to 15 people.
“This was such a great way to see Sorrento. The first part was a short walking tour and then we stopped and had some of the most delicious cheeses, meats, bruschetta along with wine etc. The lemon tour and vineyard was also a major highlight with limoncello! Do this when you first arrive!”
Spend a full day in Stellenbosch tasting South African wine, chocolate, cheese and olives at several estates. Guides such as DD, Dee, Elma and Elmer are praised for clear explanations, flexible pacing and strong food-and-wine pairing advice. Pickup and drop-off are included, with groups capped at 13.
“We didn't expect a private tour so it was a nice surprise Visited 3 places all lovely in their own right. Our guide not sure about spelling - Elmer was very knowledgeable Took the tour at a good pace and didn't force us into going anywhere too heavy for lunch as we only really wanted a sandwich. Picked us up on time at our hotel with no problem”
Meet Elisabeth at Il Fiorello Olive Oil Company in Fairfield for a two-hour tasting on her family’s olive farm. Walk through the grove, learn how to judge extra virgin olive oil, pair oils with snacks, then taste Northern California wines and two local cheeses. The small-group format keeps the experience personal and easy to follow.
Visit Podere la Marronaia, an organic family farm about 800 meters from San Gimignano, for four wines, six olive oils, local cheeses, bruschette, and a truffle-based meal. The outdoor setting looks toward the town towers and nearby vineyards. This private, English-language tasting lasts about 45 minutes and does not include transport.
“This was a nice little surprise to find a charming vineyard in San Gimignano that was small and family owned and there for generations. The wine, olive oil and balsamic vinegars was delicious!”
Spend one hour with sommelier Anton tasting six organic, biodynamic, natural, and orange wines from Greece. Pair them with cheese, small nibbles, herbs, spices, grape must, and extra virgin olive oils while learning how ancient grape varieties and modern winemaking shape each glass. The tasting is in English and suits adults interested in wine, food, and Greek traditions.
“Thank you for an amazing wine tasting! We really enjoyed everything - the history and stories about the Greek wine, and of course the taste of it! The owner of the wine shop is enthusiastic and warm, and we felt very lucky to have found this place. We recommend this wine tasting for everyone interested in learning about wine and Greece in general.”
Spend about eight hours touring three wine estates on the Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, or Paarl Wine Routes. Your driver-guide handles hotel pickup, transport, and commentary while you taste wine with chocolate and cheese, plus olive oil at selected estates. Groups are capped at 12, and guide Elmo is praised for his wine expertise.
“Everything was perfect. Our guide Elmo was extremely knowledgeable on wine tasting and we learned a lot. Had an amazing time”
By what you do, not by what is nearest.
