ProducerCrete
Lyrarakis
リララキス
Pioneers reviving Crete's rare indigenous grape varieties
Cretan winery rediscovering and reviving indigenous grape varieties including Dafni, Plyto, and Vilana, producing wines of distinctive character from the island's diverse terroirs.
www.lyrarakis.com ↗Cuvées
Who Is This For?
For explorers of rare Mediterranean varietals and organic, terroir-driven Greek wines.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What indigenous grape varieties did Lyrarakis revive?
- Lyrarakis rescued three ancient Cretan varieties from near-extinction — Dafni, Plyto, and Melissaki — alongside cultivating other rare indigenous grapes such as Vidiano and Vilana.
- Is Lyrarakis an organic winery?
- Yes, Lyrarakis has been fully certified organic since 2020 and practices regenerative viticulture, including no-till farming and organic-waste-based fertilizer.
- Where is Lyrarakis winery located?
- The winery is based in the village of Alagni, in the Peza appellation south of Heraklion, Crete, with vineyards planted at altitudes up to roughly 550 meters.
- When was Lyrarakis founded?
- Brothers Manolis and Sotiris Lyrarakis founded the winery in 1966, though the family first bottled wine under the Lyrarakis name in 1992; it is now run by the second generation.
- Has Lyrarakis won any international awards?
- Yes, Lyrarakis wines have received multiple medals at the Decanter World Wine Awards, including silvers for its Vidiano, Dafni Psarades, and Plyto Psarades bottlings.