Greece
Gourmet Getaway to Greece
The Tree & Vine Gourmet Tour 2021
October 28 – November 5, 2021
Group Size: 14 participants
Join us for a gourmet getaway to the fabled vineyards and ancient olive groves of Greece, from the fertile bounty of the Peloponnese to the rich culinary heritage of Athens. Together we will delve into the agrarian past of the Peloponnese from traditional bread making and garden to table cooking to golden honey perfumed by a landscape of wild herbs and citrus, before uniquely experiencing the native varietals and aromatic qualities of Laconia’s mythic Extra Virgin Olive Oil during harvest season. We will sip floral Moschofilero and spicy Agiorgitiko in the ancient vineyards of Mantinia and Nemea, and taste organic creations earnestly expressing the terroir, while exploring the archaeological vestiges of Mycenae, Sparta and Epidaurus. We’ll visit seaside fishing villages and hilltop Byzantine towns before venturing to the flavorful soul of Athens for a lesson in classical Greek cooking as we uncover its diversity of delicacies, from artisan cheesemakers and antique delicatessens preserving food traditions influenced by the east to age-old marketplaces offering a timeless portrait of culinary culture in the city beneath the shadow of the Acropolis.
Trip Details


Day One
October 28, 2021 (Arrival to Monemvasia)
Pre-Tour Hotel Option in Athens
It is strongly recommended that tour participants arrive to Athens one day prior to the commencement of the tour, to allow for any delays or rerouting that may occur while in transit to Athens. For tour participants wishing to arrive to Athens on October 27th, 2021, a pre-tour hotel option with rates has been outlined in “Additional Tour Information” under the “Pre-Tour Hotel Option” section.
Our gourmet getaway to Greece will begin at the rendezvous point of the InnAthens Hotel, where the CountryBred Tour Manager will be waiting to welcome everyone as they arrive. Once all participants have arrived, we will depart via group bus transfer for the sweeping landscapes of the Peloponnese for an archaeologist-led visit of the UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site of Mycenae, one of the most important centers of ancient Greek civilization dating back to the Bronze Age. We will next travel to an acclaimed winery in the lush heart of the Mantinia Wine Route, where we’ll toast to the start of our epicurean adventure together with an aperitif of native Moschofilero based vintages accompanied by charcuterie and local products. From the verdant vineyards of Mantinia we will travel to the stunning seaside town of Monemvasia in the Laconia region, for check-in to Kinsterna Hotel, our exquisite five-star gourmet retreat in the Peloponnese peninsula. We’ll settle-in with free time to relax after our journey, before celebrating the start of our getaway with a dinner of traditional Greek cuisine redefined using contemporary techniques at our hotel’s fine dining restaurant.
Stay: Kinsterna Hotel
Meals: Light Lunch, Dinner

Day Two
October 29, 2021 (Monemvasia)
Stay: Kinsterna Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Light Dinner

Day Three
October 30, 2021 (Mystras & Sparta)
Stay: Kinsterna Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day Four
October 31, 2021 (Laconia)
Stay: Kinsterna Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day Five
November 1, 2021 (Laconia)
Stay: Kinsterna Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day Six
November 2, 2021 (Nemea Wine Country, Nafplio & Epidaurus, Athens)
Stay: Perianth Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day Seven
November 3, 2021 (Athens)
Stay: Perianth Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Light Lunch, Dinner

Day Eight
November 4, 2021 (Athens)
Stay: Perianth Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day Nine
November 5, 2021 (Departure from Athens)
Meals: Breakfast
Pricing
Pricing is $4,995 per person, based on double occupancy*
*Prices subject to change
Tour Highlights
8 nights at luxury, five-star boutique accommodations in the Peloponnese & Athens
12 regionally inspired meals showcasing local food products & seasonal ingredients
Full-time CountryBred Tour Leader & select touring with local guides
Two representatives from The Tree & Vine on tour
All ground transportation from pick-up to drop-off in private, air-conditioned bus
Exclusive visits & tastings at artisan producers of regional gourmet specialties in the Peloponnese & Athens
Olive oil sommelier-led tasting of artisanal Extra Virgin Olive Oils at family-owned, organic farm estate
Estate visit with Extra Virgin Olive Oil tasting flight at acclaimed organic producer in Laconia
Traditional bread-making workshop led by local baker in the Peloponnese
Exclusive winery visits & tastings in the appellations of Mantinia & Nemea
Hands-on cooking experiences in the Peloponnese & Athens
Visit & tasting at artisanal honey producer in the Peloponnese
Archaeologist-led explorations of such ancient sites as UNESCO World Heritage Mycenae, Mystras, Epidaurus & the Acropolis of Athens
Guided visit of legendary Dimotiki Agora (Central Market) of Athens
Guided walking tours of historic treasures of the Peloponnese, including Monemvasia, Areopoli & Nafplio
Guided explorations of cultural treasures of Athens, including Monastiraki Square and Flea Market, Syntagma Square & the ancient district of Plaka
Included
8 nights at elegant stays handpicked by CountryBred, including five-star Kinsterna Hotel in the Peloponnese & five-star Perianth Hotel in Athens
Group transfer from designated rendezvous point in Athens to the Peloponnese, for start of tour
Group transfer from Athens to designated drop-off point of Athens International Airport, at the end of tour
The full-time assistance of a CountryBred Tour Leader
Select touring with professionally licensed local guides & culinary experts, where indicated
A representative from The Tree & Vine on tour
All ground transportation from pick-up to drop-off in private, air-conditioned bus
Signature cultural touring & all associated tickets/entrance fees, as indicated in the tour itinerary
Daily hotel breakfast
Seasonally inspired dining experiences showcasing regional gastronomy & wines of Greece
Welcome aperitif hosted at acclaimed winery along Mantinia Wine Route
Archaeologist-led explorations of such ancient sites as Mycenae, Mystras, ancient ruins of Sparta, Epidaurus & the Acropolis of Athens
Hands-on, garden to table cooking class featuring local recipes & seasonal produce in the Peloponnese
Hands-on cooking experience highlighting heritage recipes in Athens
Exclusive wine estate visits & tastings in the appellations of Mantinia & Nemea
Sommelier-led wine pairing of natural Greek wines featuring Peloponnesian & Laconian grape varietals
Exclusive olive harvesting experience, hands-on natural soap making workshop & olive oil sommelier-led tasting of prized Extra Virgin Olive Oils at organic, family-owned farm estate
Organic olive oil estate visit & Extra Virgin Olive
Oil tasting flight at acclaimed fourth generation producer of the Laconia region
Exclusive bread-making workshop of traditional loaves, led by local baker
Guided walking tours of historic treasures of the Peloponnese, including Monemvasia, Areopoli & Nafplio
Visit & tasting at artisanal honey producer in the Peloponnese
Guided explorations of cultural treasures of Athens, including Monastiraki Square and Flea Market, Syntagma Square & the ancient district of Plaka
Guided visit of legendary Dimotiki Agora (Central Market) of Athens
Tastings of Greek epicurean specialties in Athens, including regional cheeses at gourmet cheesemaker, artisan charcuterie at storied delicatessen & traditional Greek coffee with pastries at historic coffee house
Seated tasting of indigenous Greek varietals, such as Assyrtiko, Xinomavro & Moschofilero, at esteemed Athens wine bar
Traveler Welcome Package in advance of departure
Not Included
International or regional airfare
Alcoholic beverages, wines or a-la-carte food orders outside of pre-arranged menus during organized meals
Any meals or beverages during free time
Hotel incidentals including room service, laundry services and hotel bar tabs
Hotel room upgrade requests and/or fees/supplements incurred from any room changes
Personal expenditures and personal spending money
Expenses for activities/excursions not included in the tour itinerary
Transportation expenses incurred during free time, such as taxi or bus fares
Travel insurance including health, accidents, lost baggage and trip cancellation
Passport and Visa expenses
All other items that are not mentioned or included in the tour itinerary
additional tour information
Arrival & Start of Tour
The tour will commence on October 28th, 2021. The group rendezvous point for the start of the tour is InnAthens Hotel, the designated pre-tour hotel option. It is strongly recommended that you arrive to Athens one day prior to the commencement of the tour, to allow for any delays or rerouting that may occur while in transit to Athens. Please note that all participants must arrive to InnAthens Hotel by 9:00 AM on October 28th, 2021 to take advantage of the group transfer to Greece’s Peloponnese.
Tour Start Date: October 28th, 2021
Suggested Airport: Athens International Airport
Pick-up Location: InnAthens Hotel
Pick-up Time: 9:00 AM
Pre-Tour Hotel Option
Tour participants choosing to arrive to Athens on October 27th, 2021, one day prior to the commencement of the tour, have the option to book the following pre-tour hotel rates at InnAthens Hotel:
Deluxe Room with City View Rate:
$210 per night, per room, with breakfast included; check-in on October 27, 2021 with check-out on October 28, 2021
Deluxe Room with Atrium View Rate:
$198 per night, per room, with breakfast included; check-in on October 27, 2021 with check-out on October 28, 2021
To book your pre-tour hotel stay at InnAthens on October 27th, 2021, please contact CountryBred at info@countrybred.com.
Departure & End of Tour
The tour will end on November 5th, 2021 with group drop-off at Athens International Airport. If you are planning to depart from Athens International Airport on November 5th, 2021, you will need to book a departing flight that leaves no earlier than 9:00 AM, to allow for ample time following the scheduled group drop-off.
Tour End Date: November 5th, 2021
Suggested Airport: Athens International Airport
Drop-off Location: Athens International Airport
Drop-off Time: 7:00 AM
Changes to Tour Itinerary
Travel Insurance
Optional travel insurance is available to provide peace of mind during your travels in the event of accident, sickness or unexpected cancellation. In evaluating travel insurance options you may want to review all forms of insurance coverage for your upcoming trip, such as your credit card or medical and homeowner’s insurance company benefits, in addition to other third party insurance providers. Trip insurance can also be purchased through CountryBred’s preferred provider AIG Travel Guard®, the nation’s leading travel insurance carrier. If you are interested in obtaining a quote or purchasing a Travel Guard policy, you can contact CountryBred at 1-800-615-3543 or info@countrybred.com.
Airfare
Today’s travel landscape offers many resources available for booking airfare. As such, we encourage you to explore your options, such as booking your airfare through a trusted ticketing agent, an online airline resource, or using your frequent flier miles or credit card rewards points. As you research your preferred flights, you will want to review your pre-tour and post-tour travel plans, and select airline routes that make sense logistically with regard to the start and end dates of the tour.
Passports, Visas & Travel Documents
All CountryBred Encounters require a valid passport, with a minimum 6 months validity. As visa and entry requirements can change with little or no notice, it is your responsibility to carry the proper travel documents, and to contact your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date information on visa and entry requirements, along with information about country specific quarantine and testing requirements.
Luggage Allowance
Each tour participant is allowed a total of one medium sized suitcase (25” to 27” inches) and one standard carry-on. Please note that this luggage allowance will be strictly enforced, as the size of the tour vehicle will only accommodate the set number of tour participants and the outlined luggage allowance per participant. Any deviation from the outlined luggage allowance will result in unnecessarily cramped tour bus conditions.
Organized Meals
Physical Considerations
Traveler Welcome Package
How to Book
Step 1:
Step 2:
After your trip deposit has been submitted to Terri at The Tree & Vine, you will need to complete and submit CountryBred’s online Group Traveler Booking Form. You can fill out and submit the form by clicking the “Book Now” buttons on this page, or by visiting https://countrybred.com/group-traveler-booking-form/.
Once your trip deposit and Group Traveler Booking Form have been received, your spot will be reserved on the trip. Should you have any additional questions regarding your reservation and the submittal of your deposit to The Tree & Vine, please contact Terri Karlsson at terri@thetreeandvine.com or 865-985-0524.
Should you have any questions regarding the submittal of your online Group Traveler Booking Form, you can contact CountryBred at info@countrybred.com or 1-800-615-3543.
Trip Balance Payment
Trip balance is due to Terri Karlsson of The Tree & Vine by no later than August 13th, 2021 (approximately 75 days prior to tour departure).
Payments may be made by MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover, or by check made payable to The Tree & Vine.
Cancellations
If you cancel by or before May 14th, 2021: You will receive a 100% refund of your paid deposit
If you cancel between May 15th, 2021 and July 8th, 2021: You will receive a 50% refund of your paid deposit
If you cancel between July 9th, 2021 and August 13th, 2021: You will receive a 25% refund of your paid deposit
If you cancel after August 13th, 2021 all monies paid will be non-refundable
Trip cancellation must be made by calling Terri Karlsson at The Tree & Vine at 828-577-1848, and must be followed up by written confirmation via email or mail.
Handpicked Stays

Hotel
Kinsterna Hotel

Hotel
Perianth Hotel
