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CRETE

Island

Crete is one of the most important wine-producing regions of Greece, playing a decisive role in the development of modern Greek wine. Its size, the variety of indigenous varieties, the complex topography and its popularity as a tourist destination make the island a driving force for the future of Greek wines. The vineyards are located mainly in the eastern part of the island, especially on the northern side, where they are favored by the northern and northeastern sea winds. They occupy lowlands and plateaus, up to 1,000 m., and today are mainly linear, while traditional bowls still exist. The mountain ranges of Lefka Ori, Ida and Diktys form a multitude of plateaus and ravines, creating a wide variety of vineyards where local varieties such as Vilana, Kotsifali, Liatiko, the Aegean Mandilaria, as well as other indigenous and international varieties thrive. The dry-thermal climate of Crete, with sunshine on 70% of the days and minimal summer rainfall (<50mm), is tempered by the proximity to the Cretan and Libyan Seas (coastal vineyards) and the altitude (mountainous and semi-mountainous vineyards). The soils are mainly clayey and limestone, with the poorest on the slopes, which facilitates the adaptation of the vine to the southernmost geographical point of Greece and Europe (northern latitude 35°).