Wines of Crete form strong bonds between the wineries and the mosaic of
island’s tradition transmuting a fine collection of wine gems.
In a tour of the most historic vineyard in Europe, Crete, with a resounding presence in the productive and social life of the island from the early Minoan times until today, Sommelier Efthimios Andriopoulos walks the roads of Wines of Crete carved by 3 top wineries.
Ktima Toplou, Sitia- Crete
A modern winery with facilities adapted to the relief of the landscape
How would you describe the course of the winery until present ?
The relationship between the Toplou Monastery and the winery is direct and inseparable as the land, vineyards and winery belong to the Toplou Monastery. The entire production process is personally supervised by Abbot Amvrosios in collaboration with the company’s scientific personnel.
From 2005, when the construction of the modern winery of Toplou Monastery was concluded, the production of organic quality wines commenced.
However, in 2019, under Abbot Father Amvrosios guidance, a total conversion of the entire production process was launched, starting with a total rebranding, more sophisticated labels emphasizing mainly on indigenous varieties and single-varietal wines so that the wealth of Crete interwoven with the terroir of Toplou Monastery could be highlighted. (poor and windswept soils, low production and excellent quality grapes).
Αt the arsenal of cultivated varieties there are Vilana, Thrapsathiri, Assyrtiko, Liatiko, Mandilaria and Syrah, single varietal wines are produced from the above varieties, in depth:
| 101 Doors | Vilana | White | Dry | |
| Gerto | Thrapsathiri | White | Dry | |
| Samonion | Assyrtiko | White | Dry | |
| Amaranthon | Liatiko | Rose | Dry | |
| Linos | Liatiko | Red | Dry | |
| 101 Doors | Syrah | Red | Dry | |
| Lotza | Mandilaria | Red | Dry | |
| Philotheos | Liatiko | Red | Sweet |
What are those wines for you, which you would characterize as the most celebrated Wines of Crete and which you proudly keep in a special place both in your hearts and your collection?
Gerto is undoubtedly the wine that wins the hearts of consumers due to Thrapsathiri responds very well to the dry climate of Sitia, producing aromatic wines with a very pleasant aftertaste.
Linos is a quite noteworthy wine for the estate because, in addition to the Liatiko variety producing very high-quality, medium-bodied, aromatic red Wines of Crete with great aging potential, it is also the mainly cultivated variety of Sitia and, finally, it faultlessly accompanies the local cuisine.
Lotza is another gem of the vineyard owing to the production method, where the red grapes of the Mandilaria are dried under the sun for 10 days to produce a very concentrated red dry wine, where it is consequently aged in new 600 liter oak barrels for 18 months , with astounding results!
What to know before you go
Ktima Toplou winery is located at the northeastern tip of Crete near the Vai palm forest and appertains to the Holy Monastery of Toplou. It produces wine from its own organic vineyards of approximately 430 acres.
Tasting notes
Gerto
White, dry, Thrapsathiri variety with aromas of white flowers, lemon blossom, lime, citrus, lemon, grapefruit, pineapple, mango.
Aging: 3 years
Linos Liatiko
Red, dry, complex sweet nose with dominant aromas of pomegranate, sour cherry, guava and leather. Light body with a long and sweet sour cherry aftertaste along with a slight sense of tannins.
Lotza
Organic red single varietal Dry Wine, PGE Lasithi
From 30-year-old vineyards, a concentrated red wine of long aging (10 years), from the indigenous Cretan variety Mandilaria.
Deep red color, high alcohol content and notes of coffee, vanilla and black berries.
Full mouth and long aftertaste with strong tannins.
Ideal to accompany grilled meat and game
Lyrarakis Winery-Αlagni,Heraklion, Crete
The secrets of winemaking and native varieties are revealed in a welcoming space, where vision and love for wine testify a harmonious coexistence
How would you describe the course of the winery until present?
As a winemaker from birth, I may say that wine runs in my veins. Since I was a child I could find myself at the vineyards and the estate, exploiting our family’s dedication to wine and the vision for highlighting the vineyard itself along with the wealth of Wines of Crete.
My most significant source of knowledge was experience itself, as from a very young age I was employed in every line of business at the winery and gained a global knowledge of the remit. Since then, I have been working to contribute to the appreciation of Crete in global wine firm and in its consolidation among the most important wine destinations. My motto is: “keeping the old, healthy roots, we carve new, innovative roads”.
What are those wines for you, which you would characterize as the most celebrated Wines of Crete and which you proudly keep in a special place both in your hearts and your collection?
I am specifically proud of the varieties that our family saved from extinction, Dafni, Plyto and Melissaki. This last variety excites me in particular, as I discovered it myself in a century-old vineyard in Amari. As we walked with the winegrower between Plyto and Vidiano vines, I observed a small grape, which was not like the others, neither in appearance nor in taste.
At a later stage, we came across the Melissaki variety, which was transcribed at the region of Amari taking its name from its similarity to the aroma of honey and honeycomb. In 2010, we planted Melissaki vines at the privately owned vineyard in Heraklion “Gerodetis”, from which the wine of the same name, Melissaki Gerodetis, was born.
From the same region, where we discovered Melissaki derives the second label I tell apart, Liatiko Kedros, which expresses a very special terroir of Wines of Crete.
At altitudes of more than 800metres on Mount Kedros, pro-phylloxeric Liatiko vines have been cultivated for more than a century in low cups protecting the fruit from the winds and intense sunshine. The resulting wine possesses a steel mouth, characteristic of the strength and firmness of the land.
Finally, I single out the Symbolο label, which is produced only in the finest years and condenses all the wine knowledge, research and experience of the family, harmoniously combining different varieties into a wine with high aromatic intensity and depth of taste.
What to know before you go
Lyrarakis Winery, founded in 1966 by the brothers Manolis and Sotiris Lyrarakis, currently manages 120 acres of privately owned vineyards and another 730 acres of cooperating winegrowers, cultivating according to the principles of organic agriculture and sustainable development, with respect for the biodiversity of the locale.
From the very beginning, the family has been dedicated to the revival of rare indigenous varieties of Wines of Crete, such as Dafni, Plyto and Melissaki, and continues to pioneer research to discover long forgotten varieties and individualistic terroirs.
Tasting notes
Melissaki Gerodeti
White, dry wine, Melissaki variety, PGI Crete, medium golden color.
Aromas of tangerine, dried apple and acacia honey, combined with merging notes of ginger, lemon and tannins on the palate. It can be aged up to 6 months.
Liatiko Kedros
Rosé, dry wine, variety Liatiko, PGI Crete. This rosé is the rebirth of the grapes with a new face, in a wine with a soft skin color and a steel mouth, characteristic of the fist of its origin. Rose color with fruity aromas of sweet bergamot pleasantly balanced with the sensation of winter flowers.
Aging: up to 18 months
Symbolo
Red, dry wine, PGI Crete
Intense ruby red color with layers of aromas of wild berries, tobacco and forest mixed with sweet spices and violets. It expresses both strength and finesse as it unfolds a final silky aftertaste.
Aging: 10 years
Diamantakis- wines, Kato Asites, Heraklion, Crete
From the vine….to the bottle!
The long-standing tradition of viticulture and passion guarantee the modern production unit of top quality Wines of Crete
How would you describe the course of the winery until present?
Diamantakis winery started as an idea in 2000, when I admitted the Department of Oenology and Beverage Technology at the former TEI Athens and present University of West Attica.
Hailing from a viticultural family we owned vines at the region of Asita in Crete and then we decided along with my two older brothers Ioannis and Michalis to set out the procedures in order to build a small infrastructure that will house our winery and generate a small family business.
And so it came in fruition, upon completion of the construction of the chateau, we embarked on the structure of the winery in 2008, the first vinification begun and in May 2009 bottled our first wines, White and Red PRINO, while we poured in the barrels the first red Diamantopetra 2008 (Syrah 70% – Mandilaria 30%), which was first released in 2010. Along the way, the vineyard grew and nowadays as a family we cultivate 150 acres and acquire 9 wine labels.
What are those wines for you, which you would characterize as the most celebrated Wines of Crete and which you proudly keep in a special place both in your hearts and your collection?
2008 was a fantastic year for reds in Crete. The first red Diamantopetra 2008 (Syrah Mandilaria) will definitely remain in a very special place in our hearts.
Another important point during our journey was the selection to try Assyrtiko in Crete and in our region. Around the winery, 25 hectares of terraced vineyards were cultivated in 2010.
At this juncture, we decided to plant a small berm with Assyrtiko, where along the way and after venturing on experimental vinifications, we acknowledged that it harmonised the terroir of the region perfectly well and at present planted several acres producing 2 labels by using Assyrtiko Lefki Diamantopetra(Assyrtiko 50%- Vidiano 50%) and Assyrtiko Petali.
As a third favorite point, I will refer the option to engage with the local Liatiko variety, where in 2017 we vinified and in 2019 a Liatiko tank wine, Petali Liatiko, was released for the first time on the market.
It is a Liatiko wine that can be identified as a brilliant summer red with delicious flavors and aromas especially embraced by international markets.
We consider this variety to be one of its kind and I have to admit that we did not give the required attention at the beginning of our winemaking career as at that time the consumer was not at all familiar with light colored reds as they put a lot of emphasis on rich deep dark colors.
We belong to the PDO Dafnes zone and we should stress out the major importance of Liatiko is since it remains the flagship of our wine zone. Out of Liatiko, in addition to Petali, for the last 2 years we have also been releasing Diamantopetra Rosé, which is a 100% Liatiko Tank Rosé.
What to know before you go
Diamantakis winery is a contemporary production unit of quality wines in Crete. It is located southwest of the city of Heraklion at the very heart of the province of Malevizio, outside the village of Kato Asites.
The family’s goal is the production of the finest Wines of Crete, cultivating the vineyards with respect and care and utilising simultaneously the unique microclimate of the territory in combination with local grape varieties, such as Liatiko, Vidiano, Assyrtiko and Mandilaria.
Tasting notes
Diamantopetra
Red, dry wine, PGI Crete
The 12-month aging in oak barrels creates an exuberant wine with an intense aromatic bouquet, dominated by blackberries and pepper. The wine is characterized by acidity, with a pleasant long-lasting aftertaste.
Petali Assyrtiko
White, dry wine
Soft, yellow color, aromas of citrus fruits, flowers, Cretan herbs such as thyme and oregano. The high acidity makes it cool and crisp. The three-month aging on the lees gives the wine greater depth and complexity resulting in a longer lasting aftertaste with a metallic feeling.
Petali Liatiko
Red, dry wine, Liatiko variety, Ripe cherries, strawberries, plums and sour cherries mingle with some spicy notes. Silky tannins and crisp acidity.
Aging: 5 years
*** We would like to express our gratitude towards the wineries and thank them for their contribution, without of which this article could not be whole and complete.
Αbout the Author
Efthimios Andriopoulos is a graduate of the renowned Swiss educational institution Center International De Glion with specialization and degree in the principles of Hospitality Administration(Αssociate Degree) along with Hospitality & Tourism Management(Manchester College of Arts & Technology).
He has been employed as Maitre and Sommelier in leading hotel groups throughout Greece. He acquires an extensive experience as an instructor at IΕΚ Delta 360 of the Technical Department of Tourist Units and Hospitality Businesses and in particular in the Sector of Hotels, Culinary Arts, Bakery, Pastry. He is a regular member of Patras Wine Club association with activities for Greek wine and Greek gastronomy.
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