Crete

REGION

From turquoise beaches encasing vibrant cities to mountainous canyons surrounding sleepy fishing villages, Crete’s unspoilt culture is championed by it’s spirited people and time-honoured traditions. The combination of wonderful cuisine, enchanting scenery and rich historical tapestry has made this Greek island a desired destination on many travellers’ wish lists. 4000 years ago, the first advanced society on European soil were the Minoans, who ruled and built incredible vestiges throughout the whole Island which can still be seen today. Through discoveries of pottery and frescoes found at the Palace of Knossos, and catalogues of wine found in ancient storerooms, we know the civilisation was the first to domesticate grapevines and begin the trade of wine! 

History permeates through ancient towns like Chania and Rethymno, where beautifully restored mansions sit next to mosques and Turkish bathhouses, and Byzantine influences are shown through immense, frescoed chapels and regal monasteries. Stravros Mount is one of oldest and most beautiful monasteries on the island, holding an established reputation for providing spectacular wines, oils and more. Rural Cretan tavernas pride themselves on their production of sumptuous meats, hard cheese, fine wine and fresh seafood. Famous gourmet trails allow travellers to revel in the rituals and passion of the Cretan people when it comes to their delicious and bountiful cuisine and lifestyle. Untouched, generous and colourful: a wine producing region with huge potential and originality.

 TERROIR

 The island is characterised by soaring mountain ranges which form natural wind shields for the sloping plantations, situated high in the north-facing hillsides where the greatest concentration of vineyards is found. Humid and mild winters are followed by dry and warm summers, with ever-present cool breezes from the Aegean Sea. The perfect conditions for noble rot to take hold are provided by Crete’s rugged landscape, capturing wet morning dew and drying in the afternoon sun. The Cretan terroir is known for it’s fruitfulness and diversity, with the Palace of Knossos unsurprisingly an epicentre still for many vineyards due to excellent fertility in the soil. A key technique also used in this region is the ancient tradition of using amphora. Here, earthenware pots are used to hold the wine, with the design allowing the seeds drop to the bottom, reducing the bitter tannins released from them. The porosity of the clay also accelerates the oxygen exposure during ageing, in turn increasing the aromas further. ​