Cretan Wines That You Will Love According to a Local Sommelier!

A local sommelier and leader in wine tourism on the island of Crete shares a fabulous guide to finding all the Cretan wines you will love.

What Wines to Try in Crete

Crete is known for its pristine beaches, incredible archeological sites, friendly people, and delicious food, which frequently overshadows our history as one of the oldest winemaking regions in the world.

The Minoans, the first civilization of Europe, made wines from Vitis vinifera vines as long as 4000 years ago. A lot has happened since then, so most people don’t know that Crete has wine.

Crete is in a crucially strategic location in the Mediterranean, at the crossroads of three continents. Throughout history, those seeking power and control over the regions have occupied Crete. These were not thriving times for the Cretan people, nor were they for the wines either.

After a long recovery from wars and dictatorships, it wasn’t until the 1970s that Crete saw a major revival in the wine industry, resulting in wines of character, quality, and value.

Crete has at least 11 indigenous grape varieties, while new discoveries are being studied. They are unique, hard to pronounce, and express themselves differently in each wine region. Here is your guide to finding a Cretan wine you will love.

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Cretan White Wine

Seven white and four red wines can be found on the island. The most beloved white wine is Vidiano. Vidiano is medium-bodied, medium-acid, and medium-aromatic. There are citrus, peach, and flower notes. Vidiano is a Cretan wine that pairs well with local cuisine. It is available in unoaked and opulent oak-aged versions. It’s a safe bet.

If you’re looking for something simple to enjoy by itself or with light dishes, Vilana is a great choice. This white wine is the most widely planted, making it easy to find. Vilana has high acidity, a light body, and a pleasant bouquet.

Thrapsathiri is the hardest grape to pronounce, but it is worth it! This is the most interesting and unusual grape. It makes a wine often described as salty but balanced with ripe pears and apple flavors. Thrapsathiri is a great choice for any seafood dish.

If you prefer aromatic white wines, Crete has two! Muscat of Spina and Malvasia are similar in that they are perfumey and flowery. Both are light-bodied with medium acidity.

Muscat of Spina is more generous with apricot and lime flavors, while Malvasia has beautiful gardenia and orange blossom aromas and flavors. These Cretan wines need a balcony overlooking the sea to be enjoyed!

Dafni and Plyto are rare white grapes that you will unlikely come across in your travels, but if you do, try them! Dafni is named after the bay leaf, a strong characteristic of the wine. Plyto is also on the herbal side of the wine spectrum.

Join this Chania wine tour:

Cretan Red Wine

The red wines are few but cover all the bases!

Kotsifali makes a fruit-forward wine. It’s light-bodied, with plenty of berry flavors and a lower tannin structure. It smells and tastes like cranberry, pomegranate, and raspberry.

Unoaked varietal Kotsifali is a great summer red that can even accompany fish dishes. It is often blended with Syrah to beef it up a little bit. Traditionally, it is blended with Mantilari, which gives the wine more structure, color, and tannins.

Mantilari is the boldest native grape. Wines from this grape can be inky, full-bodied, and gamey. Most Mantilari will be aged in oak barrels, accentuating its spice notes. It is the wine you want for lamb dishes or with grilled meats. Quality Mantilari wines can be aged for quite a few years.

Liatiko is the most elegant red grape of Crete. Liatiko offers a subtle but rewarding depth of flavor punctuated with cherry, Cretan herbs, and earth. Liatiko is medium in body, light in color, and tannin. Any mushroom or vegetable dishes will be well served with Liatiko and tender meats.

Romeiko is grown all over western Crete, although it is rare to find bottled Romeiko wines. This grape’s wines oxidize easily. The sherry-esque style is an acquired taste that the locals love but may be off-putting if you are not used to it. The best expressions of Romeiko are in its very sweet sun-dried liasto-style dessert wines. Recently, Romeiko has found its way into the mainstream, vinified as white wine, as well. We have not seen the last of Romeiko!

Cretan Rosé Wine

Rosé wines from Crete shine and are perfect in our hot summers. They are often made from the international varieties Syrah and Grenache, though you will also find them from the local varieties.

If you still feel intimidated by Cretan wines, a blend may help ease into them. Many producers will blend a local variety with a more famous international variety like Sauvignon Blanc or Merlot. If you like it, try the local grape on its own next time.

Collaboration article by local sommelier Anna Maria Kambourakis. (You can check her work here).

OTHER WINE TOURS IN CRETE WORTH CHECKING OUT:

• Manousakis Wine Tour with wine tasting (Chania)
• Cretan Wine Tasting Guided Tour with Local Food (Rethymnon)
• 🌟 NEW! Wine Tasting & Food Experience Inside a Cretan Gorge (Rethymon)
• Olive, Wine, & Raki on a Flavorful Culinary Journey (Heraklion)
• 🌟 WEDNESDAYS! Lychnostatis Open Air Museum: Grape-Feast (Lasithi)

Are you visiting Crete Soon? 
Join my Facebook group for more tips, or plan your Crete itinerary with me!

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Gabi, the Crete Insider

Hi, I’m Gabi — your go-to local expert in Crete! I’ve been living in Chania, Crete since 2016, and I’ve turned my love for the island into a full-time passion — guiding travelers, writing for travel media, and curating local experiences.

I co-authored DK Eyewitness Top 10 Crete and other guides. I run the blogs The Tiny Book, Greece Planner, and My Cretan Recipe. Through this platform I help travelers design unforgettable trips to Crete.

👉 Read more about Crete Insider.