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Crete

On the Greek island of Crete, vineyards extend from the coast to mountain ground at 500 to 800 metres. Vilana and Vidiano are its leading white grapes; Liatiko, Mandilaria and Kotsifali are important reds. Vidiano can have citrus and stone-fruit aromas, while Mandilaria brings drying tannin to red wines.

Place
Crete, Greece
Explore next
Archanes · Chandakas - Candia · Dafnes
Producer profiles
3
Atlas locationCrete · Greece35.17° N · 25.10° EOpen in Atlas

Crete's wine history includes a Minoan press dating to around 1580 BCE and palace remains showing large-scale production and storage about 3,500 years ago. The PGI Crete geographical indication covers Lasithi, Heraklion, Rethymno and Chania. Vineyards extend from the coast to elevations of 500 to 800 metres. Summers are hot and dry, with sea breezes near the coast and cooler conditions in the mountains. Soil and local climate vary across the island. Vilana generally makes light, fresh whites. Vidiano has citrus and stone-fruit aromas and more texture. Among the red grapes, Kotsifali contributes soft fruit and warmth, while Mandilaria brings firmer, drying tannin. Liatiko is another major variety. Crete also makes rosé and sweet wines. Its protected wine appellations include Sitia, Peza, Archanes, Dafnes, the two Malvasia designations and Handakas-Candia.

7 named areas

Inside the region

Explore the wine-growing areas of Crete.

  1. 01ArchanesNo producers listed yetIn Crete's Archanes PDO area, Kotsifali and Mandilari form the basis of red wines.
  2. 02Chandakas - CandiaNo producers listed yetChandakas - Candia is part of Crete's wine region.
  3. 03Dafnes2 producersDafnes is a Cretan PDO zone centred on Liatiko, with dry and sweet red wines.
  4. 04Malvasia Chandakas-CandiaNo producers listed yetMalvasia Chandakas-Candia sits within Crete's wine region. Malvasia of Crete is being revived as a naturally sweet wine from sun-dried grapes.
  5. 05Malvasia SiteiasNo producers listed yetMalvasia Siteias is part of Crete's wine region. The wider Malvasia revival on the island focuses on naturally sweet wines made from sun-dried grapes.
  6. 06Peza1 producerPeza pairs white Vilana with red wines based on Kotsifali and Mandilari.
  7. 07SitiaNo producers listed yetSitia's red clay and schist soils, along with dry, windy conditions, are associated with dense, succulent wines. A local Liatiko-Mandilari can be nutty, fleshy and tannic, with dried-fruit notes.

Producer profiles

Producer profiles

Every producer profiled in Crete so far.

  • Dourakis WineryFamily winery in Alikampos making orange Romeiko and dry Cretan whites from organic and regenerative vineyards.
  • Lyrarakis WinesA family winery in Alagni, Crete, working with local grape varieties and small growers.
  • Manousakis WineryManousakis Winery farms clay-rich hills outside Vatolakkos and makes the Nostos range in Chania, Crete.
Sources for this guide1 source

Sources for this guide are listed below. Featured producers are a selection, not a ranking.

  • World of Wine Atlas and learning records

Where to go next

mapSee Crete in the AtlasSee Crete and its wine-growing areas on the map.placeContinue to ArchanesArchanes is one of Crete's wine-growing areas.learningHow place shapes wineSee how climate, landscape and local choices become part of a wine.