Wine Tourism

THE HISTORY OF THE VINEYARD CAN BE TRACED BACK TO THE FURTHEST REACHES OF TIME.

History of Wine in Crete

Seeds of wild vines have even been found in caves inhabited by prehistoric nomadic tribes. Before the ice age, the vine flourished in the polar zone. Glaciers, however, limited its spreading and pushed various species of wild vines towards warmer zones, such as central and eastern Asia, central and southern Europe, but also the greater area of south Caucasus. That is the birthplace of Vitis vinifera, the wine-bearing vine, several varieties of which are almost exclusively being cultivated today. Further information: Winesofcrete, Download “Heraklion Wine Roads”, Liatiko, the red wine of Crete, DAFNES Protected Designation of Origin. Further imformation: www.winesofdafnes.com.

Wine Tour Companies

Vintage Routes Crete, is the name of a new and exciting wine tour company on Crete. Our mission is to create elite and highly professional tour experiences that focus on the unique and unknown resources Crete has to offer, with a particular focus of course on Crete’s magnificent and unique Wines, and it’s fresh & local gastronomy. You can learn more about our services on our website, and at Facebook.

The basic requirements that a winery should meet in order to obtain the quality mark “Open Wineries” of the Prefecture of Crete are defined by the following basic principles:

Easy access to the certified wineries.
Detailed information for visitors concerning the products of the Cretan vineyard.
Suitable reception areas and use of the appropriate equipment for the realization of wine-tasting
Comfortable and safe guided tours in the certified wineries.
Compliance with all hygiene and food safety rules, according to the relevant legislation.

The “Open Wineries” quality mark is a result of the cooperation with the Cretan Winemakers Network and it is based on the specifications set by the Heraklion Winemakers Network. The Prefecture of Crete aims to the creation of a prestigious Pan-Cretan Quality Mark, which will be practically applicable, harmonized with the modern requirements and internationally recognized, contributing to the promotion of the Cretan vineyard and wine tourism in the island.