GRAPE VARIETIES
Crete is a place of countless indigenous
varieties, each of them has its own distinct
character. More than 95% of our production
is dedicated to the Cretan varieties, to the
treasures of our land.
We believe in their potential and the result always rewards us!
White Grapes
Thrapsathiri is a highly promising white grape variety from our island, and we were one of the first wineries to recognize its potential. The wines it produces easily reveal their Mediterranean origin, being rich in texture yet balanced with a refreshing combination of white-fleshed fruits, mineral elements and spicy notes.
Vidiano has become a widely cultivated white grape variety in the Cretan vineyard, known for producing expressive wines with aromas of stone fruit, flowers, and mineral elements. These wines exhibit a creamy texture and refreshing acidity. We come across both wines that charm with their freshness and wines that have matured in oak barrels. Some wines from Vidiano, such as Hesperis, have the ability to evolve beautifully over time.
Vilana is the most widely planted white variety in Crete. It produces pleasant, refreshing wines with fruity and floral aromas.
Malvasia di Candia is a white grape variety with a long history in Crete. It is associated with the historic Malvasia wines and in recent years there has been a great effort to revive and promote it. It gives easy drinking, aromatic dry wines as well as sweet versions.
Muscat of Spina is also a white variety that belongs to the Muscat family and gives extrovert aromatic wines. Assyrtiko is the most well-known Greek variety around the world. It originates from
Red Grapes
Mandilari is an Aegean red grape variety that yields deep-colored wines with high acidity and a high level of tannins. It is perfect for creating wonderful blends with Kotsifali, but it also produces charming monovarietal expressions like Hestia, which showcase complexity and aging potential.
Liatiko is a great red grape variety, that thrives in the Cretan vineyard and it has been an integral part of our winery since its inception.
Liatiko produces wines with a pale color and complex aromas that are reminiscent of dried fruits, herbs and sweet spices. Its taste is rich, as it usually boasts high alcohol content. Due to its ability to concentrate sugars, Liatiko is ideal for producing excellent sweet wines that have the potential to age for many years. Both sweet and dry wines made from 100% Liatiko can be labeled as PDO Dafnes, provided that they are produced within the zone’s boundaries.
At our winery, we use a very small percentage of international grape varieties in our wines, with the total production not exceeding 5%. The red Syrah has fully adapted to the climatic conditions of Crete and blends beautifully with our red indigenous varieties, resulting in exceptional wines. Additionally, Grenache Rouge is well-suited to the climate of the region and it is used in very small proportions to produce our rosé wine.