Surrounded by beautiful green hillsides just eight kilometres from the centre of Patra, the Achaia Clauss winery is where grapes slowly ripen in the hot Greek sunshine.
When they become saturated with flavour, they are harvested and processed and the fermenting dark red liquid is stored in thick barrels carved from one hundred year old oak. When the finished product of expertly produced wine is finally ready and it is splashed into a glass on a table surrounded with laughing friends, its rich taste sweetens the conversation and complements the savoury local food on your luxury Greece holidays.
This winery, with its stone buildings and breathtaking views, was founded back in 1861 and has been producing high quality Greek wine ever since while attracting over 200,000 visitors per year. It was founded by a German man by the name of Gustav Clauss from Bavaria after he came to Patra to work for a German trading company. It began as a small personal winery and grew into one of the most popular in the region, producing the well-known Mavrodaphne of Patras wine.
According to the legends surrounding this historic vineyard, the wine was so popular in Germany that the Nazis spared the winery when they invaded Greece during WWII.
It’s a good thing they did, because tasting this delicious wine and exploring the beautiful vineyard will be one of the highlights of your luxury Greece holidays. Once you have drunk your fill of wine, there will be plenty of other interesting attractions to visit in and around the city of Patra.
Exploring Patras
Visiting the vineyard is not the only thing to do in Patra on your luxury Greece holidays. This city is the third largest population centre in Greece and is the western gateway into the country. This beautiful town is the busy port where people come to catch the ferries to the Ionian Islands and to Italy. It has a gorgeous beachfront promenade and many interesting historical monuments, as well as a vivid nightlife and some great restaurants.
There is so much more to do and see here, as long as you don’t drink too much wine and fall asleep in the afternoon!
The Rio Antirio Bridge
This is the longest multi-span cable bridge in the world, crossing the Gulf of Corinth. It is free to walk across the bridge and there are plenty of lovely cafés along the Patra side of the water to eat at. On the other side of the bridge there are also some historical ruins to explore.
The Archaeological Museum
If you are interested in history, this museum will be the perfect activity for one of the afternoons of your luxury Greece holidays. It has many interesting exhibits about life in Greece from antiquity to the Byzantine era. Entire houses from different time periods have been reconstructed inside to give you an idea of what life would have been like.
The Medieval Castle
Perched high above the town overlooking the Roman Odeon, this castle was built back in 551 AD by the emperor Justinian. Its history is a long and fascinating one, as it was captured by the Byzantines, the Franks, the Turks and many others over the centuries. It has protected the town through many wars and sieges and it is now open for visits. There is a small theatre which holds performances in the summer and you can see amazing views of the town.
Patra would make a great day trip destination during your luxury Greece holidays, or perhaps somewhere to stay for a while and linger in order to enjoy the slow pace of life among the peaceful countryside and sun soaked vineyards. This is a destination like a fine wine as has been years in the making: it is multifaceted and complex, brings out laughter and camaraderie and is perfect for sharing with friends.
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During your luxury Greece holidays, take a day trip to the city of Patra where you can enjoy wine from the famous winery and explore many other great attractions.
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