The island of Crete, the largest island in the Greek archipelago, has a long and entrenched history of wine making. Dating all the way back to the Minoans (one of the earliest recorded civilization in Europe), Cretans have continued to take advantage of the unique terroir, and the local vineyards have played a central role in the cultural and gastronomical fabric of Crete. Depicted in Homeric tales, traded with Egyptian Pharaohs, and even home to the oldest discovered wine press, Cretan wine was celebrated throughout the ancient Mediterranean.

Most of the wine grown in Crete comes from medium to small family owned vineyards and monasteries, where the tradition of growing has been alive and well for centuries. While growing some of the more common varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Chardonnay, Crete is also home to unique grapes such as Kotisfali, Liatiko, and Vidiano, creating a rich array of celebrated flavors and aromas in their wines.

The Diamantakis Winery

Founded in 2007, the winery was founded by three members of the Diamantakis family on 18 acres of landed, which expanded another 10 acres in 2010. The first bottling came in 2009, with one white (the Malvazia di Candia Aromatica, a Chardonnay) and one red (the Prinos, a Syrah). Since then, the Diamantakis Winery has focused on more native varietals, releasing a red from the Syrah and Mantilari variety under the name Diamantopetra 2008 in 2010, and a local white variety from the Vidiano in 2011. Though the winery has obtained many distinctions in international wine competitions, the majority of its wine is sold in local markets.