Χανιά (Hania)
Styles
Principal grape varieties
Cabernet-SauvignonMuscat À Petits Grains BlancsFianoPlanta NovaSyrahCarignanKotsifaliAthiriThrapsathiriGrenache Gris (Garnacha Roja)Ugni Blanc (Trebbiano Toscano)VilanaMandilariaMacabeu (Viura)
Terroir
Natural factors
- Vineyards from 30 to over 700 m elevation, mainly on slopes and plateaus with a northerly aspect.
- Typical μεσογειακό κλίμα: mean annual temperature 17.5 °C and mean annual rainfall 630 mm.
- Soils of medium organic matter content, moderately alkaline (pH 7.5), with a relatively high calcium carbonate content.
- The influence of winds during the summer months is a distinctive characteristic of the region.
- The southern position of Κρήτη ensures high temperatures and intense sunshine, favourable for the sun-drying of grapes.
Human factors
- The Chania vineyard dates back to the Minoan period (~1600–1400 BC), with archaeological finds of wine vessels going back to 2000 BC.
- The white variety Βιδιανό has been cultivated in Rethymno for over 600 years and is considered the most promising white variety in Κρήτη.
Product characteristics
- High temperatures and intense sunshine favour the accumulation of sugars and aromatic compounds for sun-dried wines and liqueur wines.
- Moscato Spinas from the village of Maza yields white liqueur wines and sun-dried wines with distinctly individual organoleptic characteristics.
Terroir / wine link
- Soil, climate, and summer winds are causally linked to the uniqueness of the ΠΓΕ Χανιά wines.
Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.
Sources
- National product specification (PDF) — ypaat
- eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PGI-GR-A1059
- Official trade body site — Wines of Greece (EDOAO)