![](\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-v_Jf0VcG_UE\/UjC67s9qWJI\/AAAAAAAAAaM\/TKJOwnF7SpU\/s200\/photo.JPG\")
<\/p>\nMy little map of Crete!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
We’ve seen a rise in quality wine from other parts of Greece and from my new fave winemaking locale, Turkey, so it’s no wonder that the Mediterranean island of Crete is getting in on the action. Ultimately, some of the wines I sampled over the course of the tasting were not terribly complex or interesting, but the wines listed above were certainly user-friendly and quaffable.\u00a0 Keep on the lookout for wines of Crete as the quality will certainly continue to rise! \u00a0Cheers.<\/p>\n
\nIs Crete possibly even the birthplace of wine? \u00a0Well, there is historical evidence of winemaking as far back as 4000BC, which certainly stamps it as one of the globe’s earliest winemaking areas.\u00a0 Cretan winemaking flourished under Venetian rule in the 1400s but when the island was conquered by the Ottomans in 1669 its wine production decreased. \u00a0There was a spark of vino-resurgence with the Greek annexation in 1913\u2026 but Greece was a little too unstable at the time, so Cretan winemaking didn\u2019t really start to revive until mid-last-century.
\nNow Crete is gaining prominence with careful attention to quality control and the advancement of legal regulations. \u00a0Modern winemakers in Crete are actively looking to make quaffable wines which appeal to global consumers across the board.
\nAs with other parts of Greece and Turkey, however, some of these indigenous grapes are unfamiliar to the rest of the world, are hard to pronounce for English-speakers, and are often written on the label in Greek lettering. \u00a0It is my hope that with time we’ll see some of those barriers come down and the path toward enjoyment of Cretan wines will clear.
\nTo get you started, these are the main white varieties of Crete: (* indicates most prominent) Vidiano*, Vilana*, Plyto, Dafni, Thrapsathiri, Muscat Spina and Malvazia – and the main local red varieties are:\u00a0Kotsifali*, Liatkio, Mandilari* and\u00a0Romeiko.
\nThere are good plantings of international varieties too: Sauvignon Blanc, Roussilon and Chardonnay for the whites, and Syrah, Mourv\u00e8dre, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot for reds.
\nAt a recent tasting sponsored by Wines of Crete, I was able to sample some lovely wines that are now being brought into the States.
\n2009 Alexakis Winery Syrah Kotsifali\u00a0 <\/strong>40% Syrah, 60% Kotsifali. \u00a0Berry nose, rich in flavor but laser-like clean.\u00a0 Good balance and finish with a decent structure. ~$15
\n2009 Boutari Skalani Red<\/strong> 50% Syrah, 50% Kotsifali. \u00a0Bright and earthy too.\u00a0Perhaps a\u00a0little fumbly but very pleasant fruit and spice. ~$40
\n2008 Winery Diamantakis Diamond Rock Red<\/strong> Syrah and Mandilari. \u00a0Very nice, smooth and flavorful, great length.\u00a0 Berries and spice, with a light but good structure. ~$20
\n2012 Doyloyfaknis Oinopoieio Winery Femina White<\/strong> Malvasia di Candia. \u00a0Aromatics!\u00a0 Florals and tropical fruit, with a little CO2 ‘shpritz,’ super light, great for summer, not too crisp. ~$15
\n2012 Douloufakis Winery Vidiano Dafnios<\/strong> Chardonnay-like, light in style, with notes of lemon, yellow apple and hay. ~$13
\n2012 Manousakis Winery Nostos Roussanne White<\/strong> Nose of straw and lemon zest.\u00a0 Good length, nice body.\u00a0 Lip-smacking melon in the mouth, very nice. ~$22
\n2007 Manousakis Winery Nostos Blend Red<\/strong> Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Roussanne\u00a0 (My notes indicate this winery uses 100% Rh\u00f4ne varietals.)\u00a0Tightly packed berries, some earth\/woody elements, long finish, nice structure. ~$23
\nAlthough these next two producers don’t yet have importers or distributors, I also really enjoyed a few of their wines:
\n2012 Anoskeli Winery Ano Ros\u00e9<\/strong> Super strawberry nose, loads of fruit, nice length, hint of tannin, very nice.
\n2012 Nikos Gavalas Efivos White<\/strong> Spinas Muscat and Sauvignon Blanc. Bit of grassiness with good floral compliment, mouth-watering, not too acidic, a little tropical fruit \u2013 banana! Flavorful.<\/p>\n