At 8,335 km², Greece's largest island (Greek: Kriti) is 260 kilometres long and 60 kilometres wide and lies at the southern end of the Aegean Sea. From west to east, Crete is crossed by a mountain range up to 3000 metres high. There are fertile valleys between the mountains. It was the centre of Cretan-Mycenaean culture in ancient times, came into Roman possession in 67 BC and was subsequently under Eastern Roman, Arab, Venetian and Ottoman rule. It was not until 1913 that the island became part of Greece.
It is believed that the first cultivated vineyards in the Mediterranean were on Crete, but it is certainly one of the oldest wine-growing cultures. A wine press dating back to 2000 BC was discovered during excavations in Vathipetro near the municipality of Archanes. In the Middle Ages, the island was called Candia, and the sweet wines made from Malvasia and Muscatel were shipped all over Europe via the harbour town of Monemvasia(Peloponnese).
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There is a vast number of sources on the web where one can acquire knowledge about wine. But none has the scope, timeliness and accuracy of the information in the encyclopaedia at wein.plus. I use it regularly and rely on it.
Sigi Hiss
freier Autor und Weinberater (Fine, Vinum u.a.), Bad Krozingen