The Melas-Epidavros Olive Oil Domain was founded in 1994 by Evangelos Melas, son of a third-generation olive oil producer, an organic farmer with deep knowledge and extensive experience in olive oil production. The initial facilities were located in Lygourio, near Epidavros, in the Argolida prefecture of the Peloponnese.
Among the estate’s first products was the extra virgin olive oil of the “Manaki” variety, a PDO “Ligourio Asklepios” of the Argolid prefecture since 1996. In 2008, modern facilities were established, including an organic olive press and a conventional pressing line with complete quality control.
The visit begins with a guided walk through the picturesque Olive Garden, a 6-minute video on olive oil production heritage, and a tour of the crushing factory — where freshly harvested olives are transformed into liquid gold through crushing, pressing, extraction, and bottling. The laboratory visit shows rigorous quality testing and storage in stainless steel tanks.
Greek Cooking Lesson
- Olive Oil Cooking Lesson: Learn authentic Greek recipes designed to showcase how premium extra virgin olive oil transforms cooking — from raw applications to high-heat cooking
- Organic Ingredients: Cook with Melas’s certified organic olive oil and seasonal Peloponnesian ingredients grown in the estate’s organic groves near ancient Epidavros
- Meal Tasting: Taste the dishes prepared in the cooking lesson and appreciate how the quality of premium olive oil elevates even the simplest Greek recipes
This cooking class near Epidavros uses certified organic olive oil and seasonal Peloponnesian ingredients, pairing each recipe with an explanation of how extra virgin olive oil elevates authentic Greek cuisine. Local delicacies — oil bread with tomatoes, cucumbers, and feta, plus cheese or spinach pies — round out the experience.
