Wineries and vineyards for sale in Crete

LOCATION AND HISTORY

The largest island of Greece is Crete with a length of 260 km and a width of 60 km, at the southern end of the Aegean Sea, gathering and separating the islands of the Aegean Sea from the Mediterranean Sea. From west to east, Crete is criss-crossed by a mountain range up to 3,000 m high. There are fertile valleys in these mountains. The Cretan-Mycenaean cultural centre originated in antiquity, passing into the hands of Rome in 67 BC. The Romans were followed by the Roman Byzantine Empire, the Arabs, Venice and the Ottomans. It was in 1913 that the island became part of Greece.

The island of Crete is not part of any of the aforementioned archipelagos, as it exceeds all other Greek islands in size and is one of the largest islands in the Mediterranean. 

Crete is believed to have been home to the first cultivated vineyards in the Mediterranean, but it is undoubtedly one of the oldest wine-growing cultures, as evidenced by a wine press dating back to 2,000 BC.

In the Middle Ages, the island was called Candia and sweet wines made from Malvasia and Muscatel were shipped all over Europe.

Today the island's vineyards cover 50,000 ha, mainly in the north of the island where the mountains protect them from the hot winds of the African desert. Mostly table grapes and sultanas (sultanas) are produced here, but 20% of Greek wine production is also produced here.

GRAPE TYPES

Almost exclusively indigenous grape varieties are grown, the most important being Kotsifali, Liatiko, Madilaria, Romeiko, Tharpsathiri and Vilana. Until the mid 1970's the island was free from phylloxera and therefore the vines were not grafted, but the plague has taken its toll on the island and finally the vines are now grafted.

WINES AND WINERIES

The best known producers are Alexakis, Boutari, Crete Olympias Winery, Digenakis, Douloufalis, Ekonomou, Lyrarakis, Minos Cretan Wines and Milliarakis.