Nemea & Final Wineries

Posted on October 7, 2026 by Clunegapyears

Monday 5th October 2026

F&E again up earlier than their natural body clocks. Early at Ancient Nemea… beating the coaches and crowds again. However, not a major site so no coaches at all.

Ancient Nemea was the birthplace of the Pangellenic Games in 4 BC. However, like so many prototypes, subsequent versions were better. The Games moved to Argos.

*3 columns erected in 2000 to help folk visualise …*

… *So many column pieces should they decide to erect more*

The stadium was close by. Through a tunnel that another tourist dawdled through. 4000 spectators but they had to perch on the ground as no evidence of seats.

Winery No. 6 – Lantides

Despite email confirmation, they had forgotten our reservation. However, the son of the founder stepped up. No nibbles though.

Very good wines and inexpensive compared to some. Purchases.

Winery No. 7 – Aivalis

Bit of a theme for today … our reservation forgotten. Son of the founder stepped up. They did find us some nibbles. Lovely young man, but he looked like he had been in a massacre … covered in red grape juice. What a way to go!

Only 3 wines. Two oaked @€25. The other had only been bottled 2 days ago and so needed to settle. Small purchases.

And thank goodness no more wineries. They have all been interesting and different but we are so done.

Back at the apartment we reheated the take away from last night’s restaurant.

*And drank the* opened bottles used for the tastings that today’s wineries had given us.

Mycene and Winery No. 5

Posted on October 4, 2026 by Clunegapyears

Sunday 4th October

I thought James and I would have visited here. Checked the blog … it seems not. A few coaches when we arrived. 30-40 when we departed. I mostly skipped the museum due to the crowds.

Site had a concrete path to follow with good info boards. Agamemnon and other Greek hero’s ruled here.

*Copy of the gold mask that may (or may not) have been Agamemnon!*

*The top pix are the Treasury Tholos / tomb* *a little outside the citadel – largest one. Huge dome. Other tholos around the site*

Winery No. 5 – Palivou

Another tour. More wines. They are irrigating which the others weren’t. 🙄 Seemed quite commercial with organised tours turning up. However the Estate Nemea was pleasant and worth the €9 each for the 2 boxes I bought. Would have liked to taste the one partly aged in Acacia wood. Not available for tasting and not about to pay €60 for a bottle to identify the nutty notes.

Meal out was fabulous. Walking distance for us all. And taking out salad and pork dishes … cold for us to reheat tomorrow..

Corinth Changes & Wine

Posted on October 4, 2026 by Clunegapyears

3rd October 2026

Corrie Corinth Canal has undergone a transformation since I was last there. It had closed due to landslide, but reopened in June 2022.

*Major construction – new concrete sides and the steep hand cut slopes replaced by some terracing*

*We circumnavigated the fencing at the top to get some views. Saw a couple of tourist boats … 11,000 a year. Too narrow for commercial traffic*

Then went up to Accorinth. We found Corrie there 8.5 years ago. Fortunately no puppies this time. More changes. The cafe is a more permanent structure and the fortress entrance is now by steel staircase to avoid the old slippery stone road.

Onto the house in Nemea. Novices F&E sent the the bakery for a savoury pastry for lunch. Came back with a custard one 😆. We forced it down, trying not to think about the cake calories consumed at Accorinth!

Winery No. 4 – Barafakis

A few purchases may have been made.

Jennifer and Chris are in a posh hotel but deigned to join us in our apartment for supper.

Plops Wine Tasting Tour

Posted on October 3, 2026 by Clunegapyears

29-30 September 2026

The wine tour was conceived at a Chania wine tasting in January. Just as had our previous wine tasting to Heraklion with Nikki & Rob. Where there is good wine … Frances and Edward were up for it during their Crete trip, as were Jennifer and Chris from Crete.

This is my first trip since loosing James 2 months ago.

We were due to cross Kissamos to Gythio at 0815 on Wednesday 30th. Bad weather forecast. So SeaJets messaged, emailed and telephoned to advise the crossing was brought forward to Tuesday at 1930. Maria cancelled for a games night. Corrie’s drop off brought forward. And we were off.

The ferry left on time. It was rough. Frances poorly 🤢. I felt 😫. Neither of us ate. But did managed a glass of the Sekt Jennifer had brought. Docking at 0230

Kalavyrta – Slaughter Village

Posted on October 3, 2026 by Clunegapyears

2nd October

It doesn’t matter how many times I visit, it is still incredibly moving.
As reprisals for the resistance, on 13th December 1943, Germans approached from all sides. Killing and burning as they went. Everyone was pushed into the school. Men and boys over 13 one way, women children and old men in another room. The men were taken up the hill and machine gunned. 700 killed. The village was set on fire. The women realised that they were to be burned in the school, so broke down a door. A sole German sentry let them run down the hill. The next day when the women returned, they found their men. Many used bare hands, as their houses had been destroyed to bury their family.

*Outside the school museum. A mother pulling her dead husband on a blood stained coat whilst the crying children look on*

*Photo of the male staff and boys, most murdered*

*Living testimony from a few survivors – then children*

*The front school door, permanently closed*

We then slid down the hill for two wine tastings. Amazing scenery on the way up and down.

Winery No. 2 – Mega Spilleo

The winery had been attached to the monastery of the same name. The Germans also burned this and killed some of the monks. Since the war, the vines had been left for the goats and sheep to graze. The land was leased out in 1999 since when the owners had expanded and are making some interesting wines. Given the geographic layout there is no irrigation as they rely on the morning dew.

*Glass floor to original Monks’ wine vats*

Winery No. 3 – Tetramythos

A lovely lady, happy to chat but the wines v poor – a poor comparison to Mega Spilleo.

But we got to see the wines being sorted, crushed and piped into a vat.

And the lovely girl suggested a fab traditional grill restaurant with views for an early supper. Funnily enough, the others felt wined out! I managed a few gins!

Clune Gap Years

A journal and reflections of our motorhome travels

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