Rhodes has been making wine for about 3,500 years, and this private tasting gives that long story a practical shape: four glasses, a sommelier, and a very good plate of Greek food. The first pour is a 150 ml sparkling wine from the island’s oldest winery, followed by white, rosé, and red wines in 50 ml pours.

I like the private format, which gives you room to ask simple questions without feeling lost in a crowd. I also like the way Kosmas Sarakinis teaches tasting itself, not just the names of grapes and wineries. The main consideration is time: at about one hour, this is a focused introduction rather than a long afternoon at several vineyards.

Key points to know before booking

• Start with Rhodian sparkling wine: The opening glass comes from the island’s most historic winery and the first winery in Greece to produce sparkling wine.
• Kosmas Sarakinis leads the tasting: He speaks English and Greek and explains both wine technique and the story of Greek wine.
• Four wines, sensible portions: You receive one 150 ml sparkling wine, then three 50 ml pours of white, rosé, and red.
• Greek food is part of the experience: Cold cuts and cheeses are served with the wine, including local specialties from Rhodes.
• It takes place at 10GR Hotel & Wine Bar: There is no transfer, so you need to reach the meeting point yourself.
• Best for curious beginners: You do not need prior wine knowledge, and the private setting suits couples and small groups.

Why Rhodes wine deserves an hour of your trip

Rhodes is not only a beach stop. Its vineyards have produced wine continuously for roughly 3,500 years, giving the island a useful place in the story of Greek wine. That does not mean you need to arrive with a list of grape names memorized. In fact, the session is designed for the opposite kind of visitor: someone who likes wine but wants help understanding what is in the glass.

Kosmas begins with the wider story of Greek winemaking. You learn how the tradition developed, how it later declined, and how modern producers are bringing attention back to Greek wines. That context matters because it keeps the tasting from becoming a string of disconnected pours.

I like this approach. You are not simply told that a wine is local and good. You get a reason to care about where it came from and why Rhodian producers use particular Greek varieties. The information also gives you a better chance of choosing a bottle later during your stay.

Meeting Kosmas at 10GR Hotel & Wine Bar

The tasting begins and ends at 10GR Hotel & Wine Bar, making the plan easy to understand. You arrive at the wine bar, settle in, and spend about 50 to 60 minutes with the sommelier. There is no sightseeing transfer or stop-by-stop transport to arrange.

Kosmas Sarakinis is the named sommelier for this experience. His style is especially useful if wine language usually feels like a private club. He explains how to look at, smell, and taste the wine in a clear order, and he encourages questions during the session.

That teaching element is one of the strongest reasons to choose this over simply ordering a glass at a bar. You learn a method you can use afterward. Pay attention to how he asks you to smell each wine properly and notice how your own impressions change from one glass to the next.

The setting is also practical for mixed groups. One person can already know a fair amount about wine, while another may be starting from zero. A private group allows the pace to remain conversational rather than forcing everyone through a fixed lecture.

The first glass: Rhodian sparkling wine

The tasting opens with a full 150 ml glass of sparkling wine. It is produced by the most historic winery on Rhodes, which is also described as the first winery in Greece to make sparkling wine.

This is a smart opening. Sparkling wine gives you an immediate point of comparison for the still wines that follow, and the larger pour lets you spend more time with it. Kosmas can show you how to observe the bubbles, smell the wine, and taste it with more attention than you might give a casual aperitif.

The winery’s place in Greek wine history also gives the first glass extra interest. You are starting with a local product that connects Rhodes to the broader development of winemaking in Greece, rather than opening with an anonymous international label.

Do not expect four generous glasses. The sparkling wine is 150 ml, while the white, rosé, and red wines are each 50 ml. That is enough for a guided tasting, not enough for an evening of drinking. If you are looking for a full dinner with wine, you will need to make separate plans.

Three Greek varieties in white, rosé, and red

After the sparkling wine, you taste three selected wines, one white, one rosé, and one red. Each pour is 50 ml, and the wines are made from important Greek varieties found on Rhodes. The selection also represents leading local producers.

This part works best when you treat it as a lesson in contrast. Instead of judging a single bottle in isolation, you can compare how different styles feel and how the food changes the experience. The sequence also helps keep the tasting lively: the white offers one direction, the rosé another, and the red closes the flight with a fuller style.

The exact labels can vary, so you should not book this expecting a fixed list of grape names or vintages. The supplied details promise Rhodian wines and selected Greek varieties, but they do not specify the brands, years, or precise grapes served on your date.

That flexibility can be a benefit. A sommelier can choose wines that are currently available and that work well together. It also means you should ask Kosmas for the names of the bottles you enjoy most. Write them down if you think you may want to find them later.

Greek cheeses and charcuterie make the tasting practical

Cold cuts and cheeses are included, and this is more than a decorative snack. Food changes how wine tastes. Salt, fat, texture, and stronger flavors can make a wine seem softer, sharper, fuller, or more refreshing.

The platter focuses on Greek specialties, so it adds another local layer to the session. You are not only tasting Rhodian wine. You are also learning how it fits with the kind of food you may order elsewhere in Greece.

The cheese has received particularly strong praise, and the food is explained as part of the tasting rather than placed on the table without comment. Listen for Kosmas’s suggestions about which items work best with each pour. That pairing advice may be the most useful part of the hour for anyone planning Greek meals during the rest of the trip.

The platter is also helpful if you are booking this at a time when you do not want a full meal. Still, it is best described as cold cuts and cheese, not lunch or dinner. Hungry diners should plan another meal.

What the private format changes

A private group is a real advantage here. Wine tastings can become awkward when one person wants technical details and another only wants a pleasant introduction. With your own group, Kosmas can explain a point again, answer questions about Greek wine, or spend more time on a bottle that catches your attention.

The format also helps beginners. You can admit that you do not know how to taste wine without worrying about sounding foolish. That matters because the session includes the basic actions many people skip: looking at the wine, smelling it carefully, and tasting it with attention.

At the same time, private does not mean lengthy. The activity lasts about one hour, or roughly 50 to 60 minutes. You get a compact lesson with four wines, not a sprawling winery visit. I see that as a good match for a busy Rhodes itinerary, especially before dinner or after a day in town.

If your group wants a relaxed, extended tasting with many bottles, a vineyard tour, and a long meal, this will feel too short. If you want a clear introduction that fits into a day of sightseeing, the timing is much easier to manage.

Is $57 a fair price?

The listed price is $57 per person. The detailed activity information also gives a price of 49 euros per person, so check the booking page for the amount and currency shown at the time you reserve.

The value comes from several pieces working together: a private session, a certified sommelier, four wines, a food platter, and a guided introduction to Rhodian wine. You are paying for instruction and access to selected local bottles, not simply for the volume of wine poured.

The portions are modest after the sparkling wine. Three 50 ml pours add up to 150 ml, so the full wine flight totals 300 ml. That is about two standard glasses, depending on the serving size used for comparison. The point is tasting and learning, not drinking heavily.

For a first look at Greek wine, I consider the price reasonable if you value personal guidance and local context. It is less compelling if you mainly want the largest possible amount of wine for your money. The included cheeses and charcuterie help, but this is still a tasting rather than a meal.

Who will get the most from this experience

I would recommend this to you if you are curious about wine but do not yet feel confident ordering Greek bottles. The session starts at an accessible level and gives you a way to taste with purpose.

It also suits experienced wine drinkers who want to learn more about Rhodian producers and Greek varieties. The selection is built around local wines, and Kosmas can add the context that a restaurant wine list usually cannot.

Couples and small private groups are the natural fit. The setting allows conversation, and the food gives you something to share while you taste. It is also suitable for a group with mixed levels of interest, since the sommelier can explain the basics without making the more experienced person sit through a generic talk.

This may not be right for you if you dislike wine, need a substantial meal, or want to visit vineyards outside the city. There is no transfer, and the experience stays at 10GR Hotel & Wine Bar. You should also keep the short duration in mind if you prefer slow, all-evening tastings.

Practical details that affect your choice

English and Greek are offered, with Kosmas leading in English when needed. The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible, which is useful if access is an important part of your planning.

You meet at 10GR Hotel & Wine Bar and return to the same place. Since transportation is not included, allow time to reach the bar on your own and do not assume a hotel pickup.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying at once, which can help if your Rhodes schedule is still changing.

Starting times depend on availability. Since the session lasts about an hour, it can fit before dinner, after sightseeing, or into a short break during a day in Rhodes. Check the available time carefully, especially if you are coordinating it with a ferry, excursion, or restaurant booking.

Should you book Rhodian Wines?

I would book this if you want a short, private, useful introduction to Greek wine rather than a large tasting event. Kosmas Sarakinis brings the lesson to life with clear explanations, and the local cheese and charcuterie make the hour feel tied to Rhodes rather than generic.

Book it with realistic expectations. You will taste four wines, not tour several wineries. The portions after the sparkling wine are small, and the food platter is a pairing plate, not a full meal. But for $57 per person, or the listed euro equivalent at booking, you receive personal instruction, local products, and a compact story of Rhodian winemaking.

If you are new to wine, this is an easy place to begin. If you already enjoy wine, ask for the bottle names and producers you like best. That small step can turn one hour at 10GR into a guide for what to order for the rest of your time in Greece.

FAQ

Where does the wine tasting take place?

The tasting takes place at 10GR Hotel & Wine Bar.

How long does the experience last?

The session lasts about one hour, with the detailed timing listed as approximately 50 to 60 minutes.

How many wines are included?

Four Rhodian wines are included in the flight.

What are the serving sizes?

The sparkling wine is served as a 150 ml glass. The white, rosé, and red wines are served as 50 ml pours each.

What kinds of wine will I taste?

You taste sparkling, white, rosé, and red wines made from important Greek varieties found on Rhodes. The exact labels and grape varieties are not specified.

Is food included?

Yes. Cold cuts and Greek cheeses are included with the tasting.

Who leads the tasting?

The tasting is led by sommelier Kosmas Sarakinis. English and Greek are available.

Is transportation included?

No. You must make your own way to 10GR Hotel & Wine Bar.

Is the experience private?

Yes. It is offered for a private group.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.