A Winery Day Trip to Scalani Hills and Boutari

Scalani Hills Boutari Winery occupies the Fantaxometocho estate close to Knossos Minoan Palace, inside the Archanes wine-growing district of Heraklion. The winery belongs to Boutari, one of Greece's largest wine producers, and it runs a wine tasting course open to day visitors. A day trip here pairs naturally with a drive through Archanes and on toward Myrtia, since the estate sits on that same road.

Fantaxometocho: the estate behind the name

Fantaxometocho means "the haunted domain" in Greek, the name attached to the estate that now houses Scalani Hills Boutari Winery. Fantaxometocho earned that name because a former owner invented a ghost legend to keep pirates away from the property. Boutari later built its Crete winery on this same estate, adding it to a portfolio that already ranked among Greece's largest wine producers. The estate covers 7 hectares of vineyard inside the Archanes wine-growing district, a zone that produces wines under an Appellation of Origin designation.

A wine tasting course led by the estate's oenologist

The estate's resident oenologist leads the wine tasting course at Scalani Hills Boutari Winery, taking visitors through the basics step by step. Visitors taste, smell and examine each wine during the session while the oenologist explains the historic techniques behind Cretan wine production. The course suits guests without prior wine tasting experience, since it stays at a basic level throughout.

Knossos, Archanes and the road to Myrtia

Knossos Minoan Palace sits close to Scalani Hills Boutari Winery, inside the same stretch of the Archanes wine-growing district. The historical village of Archanes lies nearby too, giving the winery visit a second stop for travelers who want more than wine on the itinerary. From the estate, the road continues toward Myrtia, the birthplace of Greek writer Kazantzakis, so the winery fits naturally into a wider loop through the region. Heraklion's wine country stretches well beyond this one estate, and our guide to wine and culture tourism in Heraklion covers the other wineries and archaeological sites worth combining with a Scalani Hills stop.

Getting there with a rental car

To reach Scalani Hills Boutari Winery, most visitors drive in from Heraklion, since the estate sits along the same road that also serves Knossos, Archanes and Myrtia. A rental car covers all three stops in one trip and lets you set your own pace between the wine tasting course, the archaeological site and the village visit. Locking in a rent a car in Crete reservation before you land keeps that flexibility available from day one, and our fleet page lists models suited to the estate's country roads. Once you have settled on dates, you can book your pickup and build the rest of the day around it.