Nestled south of the Greek mainland and north of Africa in the gleaming blue waters of the Mediterranean’s south Aegean Sea, Crete is the largest and most populous island in Greece. Today’s wine, however, hails from Sitia, which is a small, isolated appellation that is separated from the hustle and bustle by breathtakingly dramatic gorges, steep hillsides and intimidating switchbacks. The vineyards this wine is derived from boast treasured ungrafted vines. It is a true rarity to experience a wine grown on its original rootstock as the vast majority of vines across the world were grafted onto American rootstock in the late 1800’s to combat the wide-sweeping phylloxera epidemic. This wine is actually a rare glimpse and the most honest expression of these indigenous vines from this unique corner of the world. Crete’s history also digs deep and possesses a truly ancient history of winemaking that is believed to reach back to the Minoan Civilization. The Minoans are currently the earliest recorded civilization in Europe and are believed to have been making wine since before 1600 BC. Although Crete is more famous as a tourist destination than a breeding ground of great wines and winemakers, one particular Cretan producer stands head and shoulders above the rest of his peers, in Greece and around much of Europe as well.