Lyrarakis Winery Crete: Wine Tasting in Heraklion

Lyrarakis Winery Crete

Those interested in wine tourism and local tastes must look at Crete’s original vineyard. Why not start with a visit to Lyrarakis Winery in Heraklion?

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Land and Values: Everything about Lyrarakis

I park under generous olive trees and walk past a yard of aromas. Oregan, rosemary, mint, lavender, and the local malotira are a prelude to the more intense fragrances I will experience.

After a warm welcome with a glass of wine, the sommelier, Anna Sofoulaki, greets me with a map of the fields. She guides me to a garden from where it’s possible to see the extension of the cultivated fields.

We’re in one of Crete’s most impressive agricultural areas, with a longstanding heritage in wine production.

In 1966, two brothers set the company roots. Now, the winery is run by a second generation of winemakers. They have added academic knowledge to the passion already permeating the family business.

Lyrarakis’ cellars store the same values of their wines: authentic and connected with the indigenous culture.

Following principles of sustainability and featuring a solid relationship with the local community.

Walking among the fields, bunches of grapes under the Cretan sun promise a fantastic upcoming harvest. A young man joins us in silence, letting Anna explain more.

Later on, he would follow us into the cellars too, still not saying much, but with the extreme confidence of someone feeling at home. He’s Bart Lyrarakis, CEO of the company.

Lyrarakis Mission: Rescuing Native Varieties

• There are four PDO-level appellations: Peza, Arhanes, Dafnes, and Sitia.
• Six more generic regional appellations complement the previous four (Chania, Rethymno, Lasithi, Kissamos, Heraklion, and Crete itself).
• And that there are eleven indigenous varieties… Well, not anymore.

Right from the start, Lyrarakis Winery has been committed to the rescue of native grape varieties. Lyrarakis has always been part of what they define as a painful process of a complex and evolving nature.

One of the winery’s pride dates back to 1992, a year marking the rescue of Plyto and Dafni, bottled and distributed four years later.

They planted a promising native grape seven years ago. This can now be considered a new local variety.

Melissaki, a Greek name clearly recalling honey, is surprising Cretan wine lovers. This piece of news, in my modest opinion, has not yet been spread enough as it should be.

Wine Tasting in Crete at Lyrarakis: Experience, Surprises, and Varieties

Tasting white and rosé

At a very long table, set in the cozy tasting room, the experience includes local cheese, sundried tomatoes, olives, and rusks. Perfectly matching the following labels.

We started tasting the winery points of pride: Plyto (2016), with aromas of citrus and pear and a pleasant aftertaste. And Dafni, a well-known rarity among local wines, has aromas of herbs, such as the bay leaf, rosemary, and lavender.

The other white coming along is Vidiano, also known as the Chardonnay of Crete, produced with the technique of batonnage, a method used to provide balance, creating a fuller taste.

Right after, we focus on the newcomer, Melissaki, or bee wine. A rescued variety that brings a new experience with hints of herbs (I feel thyme, my favorite herb), white fruits, and a pleasant recall of Cretan honey.

The Kendros Liatiko (2016), with apricot, peach, honey, and bergamot aromas, is probably one of the best experiences during the session.  A clear rosé that comes from aged vines, about 850 meters above sea level. Used to sweet Liatiko labels, this dry wine is unforgettable.

Next up, comes a darker rosé, almost a claret in color and unique in taste: It’s the Legacy Rosé (Syrah and Kotsifali), fruity and incredibly aromatic.

Tasting reds and a few extras

The remarkable concentration of stone in the local soil helps retain crucial quantities of water. This comes as an aid when harvesting vines without irrigation. Mandilari, from the Plakura Vineyard, is one of the results. Deep red color, intense yet fresh, with superb aromas of red fruit.

Karnari Kotsifali (2012) was such a surprising wine that I took a bottle home with me. This local variety is also known because it lacks color. The ruby color of Lyrarakis Kotsifali teaches us that winemaking is the art of the impossible. As far as taste, it’s spicy and with aromas of red fruits, warm and lightly tannic.

The afternoon ends with a glass of Zazazu Demi-Sec (Vidiano, Vilana, and Moscato Spinas), the first local sparkling wine. Ideal alone, or to produce explosive cocktails, like the one Anna mixes with a few drops of Agourida.

Agourida is nothing but the simple green grape juice from the first press. A traditional replacement for lemon in salads in past decades is now bottled and sold with success.

However, that’s not all, Malvasia di Creta (sundried Plyto, Dafni, Vilana, and Vidiano) is the last reward. The combination of probably the best varieties of the island results in this nectar of rich aromas, with an intensely fruity and rich taste that reminds me of childhood cakes.

Just as the sun was setting down on the horizon, I couldn’t think of a better glass of wine to end this wonderful day at Lyrarakis Winery.

There are dozens of excellent wineries in Crete and wine tasting can be a never-ending experience on the island.

You can check other wineries in Crete by reaching the local Wine Association, Wines of Crete.

Others we have visited are Klados Winery (in Rethymnon) and Fragospito Winery (the former Gavalas Winery) (from Heraklion).

Read more about Crete

• 52 Spectacular Things to Do in Heraklion (Region) for a Great Vacation in Crete!
• Most Stunning Beaches in East Crete: Complete Insider’s Guide
• Top tours, day trips, and excursions from Heraklion
• Comfortable Airbnbs in Heraklion

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