Family-run olive oil mills in Greece

Keeping traditions alive 

Family-run olive oil mills in Greece deserve special attention for the way they transform heritage into high-quality products and experiences. Looking at their journey over time, it is striking how many families have converted old industrial facilities into visitor-friendly olive oil mills, ready to welcome guests and share the country’s olive oil-making tradition.

There are hundreds to choose from across Greece, but here we’ve selected a few that help preserve traditional olive groves and protect local varieties. Their family names have become synonymous with olive oil locally, not just for the quality of their products but for their contribution to connecting olive oil with tourism.

Melissakis Family 

Chania, Crete

Crete is a landmark in the history of Greek olive oil production and, among those preserving this heritage, is the Melissakis family. Their story begins in 1890, in an old olive grove in the Apokoronas villages of Chania, where a small olive oil mill with stone millstones once operated.

Today, four generations later, the Melissakis Olive Oil Mill combines tradition with modern technology, offering visitor-friendly production facilities. Melissakis olive oil holds a certified PDO designation, and the family oversees every stage of production – from harvest to bottling – following strict quality standards.

If you find yourself in Chania, we recommend visiting to experience the production process first-hand. In autumn, you can follow the full cycle of the olive, from harvest to processing, while throughout the year you can explore the grove and learn about modern production methods. 

If you’re looking for something more interactive, the mill also offers olive oil tastings and cooking experiences, helping you discover how olive oil pairs with different dishes and how to use it in your own recipes.

Anagnostopoulos Family 

Messinia, Peloponnese

Continuing to Messinia, one of the most important olive oil-producing regions of the Peloponnese, we come to the olive oil mill of the Anagnostopoulos family, which has been producing olive oil since 1896. It was then that great-grandfather Anagnostopoulos built the family’s first stone mill. Today, the family operates two privately owned olive oil mills – one in Manesi and one in Trikorfo, Messinia.

The family’s dedication to preserving the local Koroneiki variety, combined with its long-standing expertise, led to the creation of Olive Ergo, which now offers premium products to both local and international markets. 

Whichever of the two mills you visit, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about olive processing, the cold extraction process and the distinctive qualities of extra virgin olive oil. You can also sample a range of products and discover the story behind nearly 130 years of the family-run mill.

Follow the olive route in Messinia 

Violitis Family

Pelion, Thessaly

Another family-run olive oil mill in Greece worth visiting is that of the Voliotis family, which began its journey in 1969 in Agios Vlasios, a small village on the slopes of Mount Pelion. After relocating to Ano Lechonia, the mill is now open to visitors, offering tours for families and schools and giving an insight into the olive oil production process.

With its warm, welcoming atmosphere and outward-looking approach, the mill has built an international audience, receiving multiple awards both for its products – including organic and aromatic olive oils – and its commitment to sustainability. Although the region of Magnesia is not widely known for olive oil production, this olive oil mill keeps the tradition alive, and its growing popularity comes as no surprise.

Antoniou Family 

Skopelos, Sporades islands

On the island of Skopelos, you’ll find the Antoniou family olive oil mill. In 1890, the family’s great-grandfather began this journey by creating a small, animal-powered mill to produce the first modest quantities of olive oil. 

The current owner’s grandfather, later introduced hydraulic presses and more modern centrifuge equipment, increasing production capacity. Today, the new generation of the Antoniou family continues the tradition, taking it a step further.

During your visit to the Antoniou family olive oil mill, you’ll have the opportunity to tour the fully modernised bottling, storage and packaging facilities. The highlight is the mill’s museum, where the original millstones and other historic equipment are on display, showcasing the family’s long-standing connection to Skopelos’ olive-growing tradition.

Markellos Family

Corinth, Peloponnese

The Markellos family has been active in the Corinth region since 1932, cultivating its own olive grove with local Peloponnesian varieties. Now in its fourth generation, the family has turned a visit to its olive oil mill into a fully immersive experience. 

Visitors can enjoy tastings and take part in an olive oil appreciation workshop, gaining insight into different types and qualities, as well as walking through the family-owned grove.

The most innovative part of the experience is the use of virtual reality to explore the life cycle of the olive, complementing the on-site tour. You can take part in a virtual olive harvest and tree pruning, drive a tractor and follow the full production process, from sorting to crushing and centrifugation.

Explore Greece through its olive oil mills

Your options are many, as more and more long-established family olive oil mills in Greece are being passed on to a new generation of producers, evolving into a dynamic and sustainable sector. If you’re keen to explore more of Greece through its flavours, visit these and other mills and discover the unique stories each family has to share.