This private shore trip enjoys a winery tour and tasting with local snacks at the Mercouri Estate, followed by free time on Kourouta Beach, where you can swim or, if you prefer, spend the time shopping in the village.
After meeting your guide, you enjoy a scenic drive through the Peloponnese countryside, passing through small villages on the way to Mercouri Estate. The estate was founded in 1864 when Theodoros Mercouris, a cosmopolitan businessman of the era, purchased the land, and it has remained in the hands of the same family for four generations since. From the estate's early days, the family has cultivated the Refosco grape, a variety imported from Italy, alongside other varieties, blending traditional methods with modern winemaking equipment to produce wines that have reached export standards.
The owners greet guests personally, serving coffee and soft drinks before a guided tour of the estate's grounds. Beyond the cellars and the family's small private museum, you visit the surrounding forest and vineyards. From a vantage point at the edge of the estate, the coastline is visible along with the island of Zakynthos out to sea.
Back at the main building, you sample the estate's wines alongside local cheeses and a small buffet of snacks, seated under the shade of pine trees.
From the winery, you continue to Kourouta Beach for swimming, lunch, or simply relaxing. The beach stretches roughly 12 miles along the coast with a width of about 120 feet, backed by deciduous trees and shrubs, and sits within a populated area with restaurants and shops nearby if you prefer to spend your free time in the village instead. After your time at Kourouta Beach, you return to the pier in Katakolon.