Mr & MRS Smith Kapsaliana Village Hotel

Kapsaliana is a slice of paradise for sure. Hidden away in the hills, this village has been brought lovingly back to life; it is exquisite. Everything has been done with such a clear sense of the setting, history and for the comfort of guests, with impeccable taste. We had the Libra appartment with its private hot tub, and evenings in the tub with a glass of wine, under the pomegranate tree looking at the stars were just amazing. Some lovely trips around - wineries, the monastery at Arkadi and Margarites for the stunning pottery were lovely too. We can’t wait to return to this stunning spot.

Enough has been written about the Kapsaliana hotel itself. This was our third stay and most definitely not our last, but this time we did discover something new. If you enjoy a glass of wine and would like to learn more about both local and Greek wines, then the Wine Tasting with Stelios is perfect for you. I must admit , when my husband ( impulsively) booked this Wine Tasting for us on 24/9/2024, I raised my eyes to heaven and said,”not another Wine Tasting!” We have had a few on Crete over the years and I was sceptical about learning anything new about this one. I was so wrong. It’s not only about the wines-which are varied, delightful and sometimes surprising and show just how far Greece has come from the days of Retsina and Demestica. It’s also about the setting- beneath the lemon and mandarin trees;-the canapés - cleverly chosen to bring out different elements of the wines;-but perhaps most of all……the knowledge and charm of the sommelier, Stelios. We learnt all about” legs” and “tears”, what PGI and PDO mean and just how important they are. Stelios is a fountain of knowledge whose passion for wines shines through. That, together with his unique warmth and gentle humour will make you wish that the session was at least twice as long. Another magical memory to take home with you from this most magical of places