How long have Cretan wines existed?
History and details of Cretan wines
Findings from a Minoan villa have revealed that Cretan wines were being produced on the island of Crete as early as the 16th century BC. A wine press, dated to that period, is among the oldest wine presses in the world. The villa was uncovered in 1949 under the supervision of the Greek archaeologist Spyridon Marinatos.
The archaeological site is located on the left side of the highway, four kilometers south of Archanes: the Minoan Villa of Vathypetro (Greek: Βαθύπετρο).
The discoveries made here, in what was once a two-story building, include potter’s wheels and 16 pitharia, or large storage jars. Other tools, including those for textile production and an olive press, indicate that the villa functioned as an agricultural center.
Always a Tradition of Winemaking on Crete
Crete has always been capable of producing excellent wines. Thanks to the location of the vineyards, the climate, water management, and the island’s abundant sunlight, cultivating grapes is highly viable. However, Cretan winegrowers traditionally assumed that they could not sell their grapes at a premium price. While they strove to produce the best grapes possible, they also knew that creating the quality of grapes needed for top wines required discarding more than half of their harvest.
The exception to this rule were and still are contract farmers, who had prearranged agreements regarding prices and cultivated their grapes according to strict standards and requirements.
Today, the third and fourth generations of winemakers are producing exceptional and even award-winning wines. They combine knowledge gained in France, America, or Australia with local grape varieties and Crete’s unique hilly landscapes.
Available Routaki routes:
In the past, the majority of Cretan winemaking relied primarily on the Sultanina grape. This variety had the advantage of versatility: it could be sold as a table grape or, if the quality was poor, dried and marketed as raisins.
The brand name “Sultanas” is derived from the grape’s name, Sultanina, which in turn was named after the Sultan of Turkey.
The winemaking process in a traditional way
A brief explanation of how wine was traditionally produced:
First, the grapes were harvested and placed in large cement vats. In these vats, the grapes were crushed—traditionally by foot, preferably with unwashed feet. The juice released during this process was collected through a piping system and stored in large wooden barrels.
In these barrels, the juice began the fermentation process. During fermentation, the juice gradually became clearer and increasingly resembled wine. To aid this process, the wine needed to be transferred to different barrels two or three times.
Finally, the wine was vacuum-sealed. This step was essential, as exposure to oxygen would cause the wine to turn into vinegar. The wine was then aged for approximately two months.
Traditions with Wine
One of the traditions involving Cretan wines is to produce a bottle of wine at the birth of a child and save it to be opened on their wedding day. By that time, the wine has become a deliciously aged vintage.
This topic is mentioned in…
An excerpt from Route 53 – ‘Knossos’ where the following is shared:
“Continue driving while I tell you about Cretan viticulture.
Archanes, Peza, and Daphnes are all recognized wine regions. To start, it’s important to understand that all wine is made from grapes, so let’s share some insights about grapes.
In total, Crete’s vineyards produce approximately 120,000 tons of grapes annually. Many farmers previously cultivated grape varieties suitable for a wide range of products rather than specializing solely in wine grapes.
Three main types of grapes are grown here: table grapes, wine grapes, and grapes destined for raisin production. The Sultanina grape dominates various grape-related products. Two to three decades ago, raisin production was highly profitable. However, the market price for this product has significantly declined, leading to a shift away from specialization.
Today, grape growers focus on cultivating grapes and evaluating the quality of each harvest. The highest quality grapes are reserved for table consumption, while the remaining grapes are mostly sold to wineries for wine production. The lowest quality grapes are either sun-dried to make raisins or used for the distillation of Raki, Crete’s iconic local spirit.
Follow the course of the road.”
City walk Heraklion – GPS audio tour.
You can experience this vibrant city with the interactive GPS app VoiceMap. Install the app for free and select ‘Heraklion’.
In the webshop on this site, you can purchase a code that provides access to all the information you need to enjoy a fantastic day in Iraklio.
Would you like to get an impression first? Then start by reading this page about Heraklion.
Or, first read one of the following articles:
Read about Agios Nikolaos and why it’s so important for Crete and tourism.
Visit the Agios Titus church during the GPS interactive city walk through Iraklio.
Wait till sun set and admire the lighthouse of Rethymnon with audio tour.