Our tour guide was knowledgeable and very helpful in providing for an enjoyable experience at the 3 wineries we visited. All the wineries had staff to assist us and were cordial and expert in their descriptions and advice in the varieties of wine we tried.
We did the 5.5 hour tour. We were picked up at the hotel on time 12:30 in a nice Mercedes 12 seater driven by Nico the tour guide. People who were picked up last were squished in the last row 4 seater. It was a very hot day and the A/C in vehicle was not awesome. Tour guide was very personable. We went to three vineyards. At the first Blizzard we had cheese and crackers and it was a four wine flight. I was first pour for every one of the four and received noticeably less wine than everyone else. Seriously - like a thimble compared to a shot glass. People were laughing but the host at the vineyard was clueless. I think she just wasn't sure how much wine she would go through so poured very light the first two or three people and then heavier at the end. But it made me mildly cranky and of course I did not say anything because there is nothing you can say without seeming like a tool. We had a little walk and tour around the facility. We had enough drinking water. Second was a nicer vineyard Ardieri with 5 wines and we sat at table and were served and got to socialize with all the nice people in our group. No snacks were served. Water was ample. If food to purchase was available, it was unclear. No tour. Then, we went to the 3rd - the name of which I forgot sorry, that's what happens... - and were served 5 wines and were able to sit down a bit. We were starving at that point and we ordered a cheese plate for purchase which was very good. No tour of site. Then, we took what seemed like a much longer, hotter, hungrier drive back and I felt like taking a nap at 6:30PM. Bottom line: this is an easy, inexpensive tour. It's a good diversion. But, you are not going to learn much about making wine or selling wine. In my opinion, none of the wines were exceptional. Plus, the food options should be clear at every vineyard even if one needs to spend more money on site. Sometimes you just don't feel like eating a big meal early in the day. Nico was very nice and I gave him a 30 tip for two of us. Nico also took a lot of photos and emailed them to all to us - just like he said he would - and that was very impressive.
Nikos was an enthusiastic, knowledgeable leader. The drive through the valley was wonderful in a most comfortable Mercedes tour van. We had more than enough wine at three local wineries--each unique. We also enjoyed the group itself as we got to know one another.