Choosing a wine tasting in Athens starts with what you want from the experience. Perhaps you would like an introduction to Greek grape varieties, wines selected around your own preferences, or dedicated time with a sommelier. The words guided, customised and private describe different aspects of a tasting: how it is explained, how the wines are chosen and how the session is arranged. One experience can combine all three.

Nikitas Prassas pouring white wine beside tasting trays at Cinque

A guided tasting gives you someone to help connect what is in the glass with the grape, the place and the winemaking. You can ask why one wine feels fresher, what creates a particular aroma or how food changes the impression of a wine. You do not need previous knowledge or a vocabulary of tasting notes. A useful starting point is simply to say what you notice and what you enjoy.

At Cinque, the Private Greek Wine Tasting in Athens offers an introduction through three Greek wines, with personal guidance from the team. It is a practical choice if indigenous varieties are new to you and you would like a structured starting point. The booking page sets out the available locations and what is included. Its name also illustrates why guided and private are not opposites: a private session can still follow an introductory tasting format.

A customised tasting starts with your preferences. Do you usually choose white, rosé or red? Do you enjoy freshness, aromatic intensity or a fuller texture? Are you curious about something unfamiliar? These answers give the person selecting the wines a direction. Customisation does not mean choosing only familiar styles; it can also create a route into Greek wines you might not have picked yourself.

Your Greek Selection at Cinque Monastiraki, 10 Voreou Street, follows this approach. Oenologist and sommelier Nikitas Prassas selects three Greek wines around your preferences, each accompanied by an individual portion of cheese, charcuterie or another pairing. The food is served in tasting portions, rather than as a full meal. This experience takes place in the shared wine bar: a personalised selection does not mean a private room.

For an advance request, the process begins with the contact form, followed by a detailed preference quiz and a personal proposal with the total and a payment link. Sending the first request does not confirm a reservation or create a charge. If you are already at the bar, ask whether Your Greek Selection can be arranged during your visit; this depends on availability, with the selection, pairings and price agreed first.

If dedicated time with a sommelier is your priority, explore the Private Sommelier Experience. A pre-visit wine profile helps Nikitas design a personalised flight of five Greek wines, accompanied by Greek cheeses, cured meats and homemade chutneys. It brings together a tailored selection and a dedicated private session, with room to explore the questions that interest you. Confirm the location and arrangements when booking; a private tasting session should not be taken to mean exclusive use of the entire venue.

To choose, begin with one question: what would make the visit worthwhile for you? For a first introduction, look at the three-wine guided experience. For wines and individual paired bites selected around your taste, consider Your Greek Selection. For a more extensive personalised flight and dedicated sommelier time, look at the Private Sommelier Experience. The number of wines is one detail; the kind of conversation and level of personalisation matter too.

Before making your booking, share your preferred date, group size, language and any dietary requirements or allergies. If privacy is important, explain what you need so that the setting can be confirmed. Specific wines and arrangements should be agreed through the relevant experience page or directly with the team.

Explore Cinque’s wine tasting experiences or send a Your Greek Selection request. Start with what you enjoy, leave space for discovery and let that shape your Greek wine journey.