Discover breakfast in Crete! - World Wine Tourism

What if you started your day with a flatbread drizzled with olive oil and a glass of wine instead of your usual cup of coffee? Krasopsychia, literally "wine that nourishes the soul," is the traditional breakfast of Cretans living in the remote villages of the mountain regions. Its origins date back to antiquity and reflect Crete's rich winemaking tradition. Crete, the largest island in the Mediterranean, became renowned for its viticulture, producing quality wines from various grape varieties as early as the Minoan period, some 4,000 years ago.

An ideal climate for a long history

The Cretan vineyard, one of the oldest in Europe, grows at an altitude of 600 meters and unfolds down to sea level without any particular order, following the succession of different landscapes, hills or plains, to surprise the visitor. The Cretan climate, mild in winter, hot in summer, and richly sunny year-round, refreshed by sea breezes, ensures ideal conditions for the healthy growth of the vines.

It is easy to understand, then, why Crete has such a long winemaking tradition, as evidenced by the archaeological discoveries at Vathypetro, where the oldest wine press in the world was unearthed. Local production has experienced periods of great commercial growth. Between the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, Cretan wines, in carefully decorated and sealed amphorae, traveled throughout the Mediterranean. The reputation of Cretan wine reached its zenith with Malvazia wine during the Venetian period, between the 12th and 16th centuries.

It is within this long tradition that the famous "Cretan diet" is situated, so appreciated today and considered a model of healthy eating, and in which Cretan wine of course has its place…

Wine in Crete today

70% of Crete's wine is produced in the region of the Minoan palace of Knossos. Remarkable industrial-scale maturation and bottling facilities showcase the country's excellent grape varieties, such as Kotsifali, Vilana, and Mantilari, and produce some of Crete's most renowned wines.

The traveler will enjoy visiting the wine cellars and municipal oil mills and will be able to participate in the cultural events organized each summer as part of the discovery of the "wine routes".

The Wine Routes of Heraklion

The Heraklion Wine Routes are a circular route created by the Winemakers Network and designed to allow you to discover the largest number of representative areas of the wine industry in the Municipality.

They combine visits to regions that feature remarkable historical monuments and sites linked to wine since antiquity, traditional towns, sites and trails of natural beauty, and the most remarkable wineries where you can taste local wines and food.

Wine Path 1: Heraklion – Knossos – Skalani – Patsides – Kato Archanes
Wine Route 2: Archanes – Vathypetra – Kounavoi – Katalagari – Peza Valley
Wine Path 3: Peza – Agies Paraskies – Kalloni – Agios Vasileios – Houdetsi
Wine Route 4: Agies Paraskies – Meleses – Alagni

When taste becomes a celebration…

In autumn the production of raki (brandy) constitutes a continuous festival throughout Crete known as "kazanemata".

Raki is an exceptional drink made from the leftover grapes. It has an alcohol content two to three times that of wine (20 to 30 percent). The strongest raki is the one that comes out first, during the 10-15 minutes of each batch, and is called "protoraki" (the first raki).

If you're traveling to Crete in November, a visit to a rakokazano , where raki is produced, is an absolute must. You'll have the opportunity to taste the protoraki , fresh from the distillery, accompanied by traditional dishes in an unforgettable celebration with Cretan music. For Cretans, and especially in this region, raki production is a chance to get together with friends, sing, and dance—a celebration that begins early in the afternoon and lasts until the following day.

Do you have questions about an upcoming trip to Crete? Contact Chryssa at Evaneos for a 100% tailor-made trip and guaranteed local French-speaking expertise! Follow Evaneos on Facebook and Twitter .

Evaneos with the collaboration of Stella Vassilaki