Kythera- The Traditional Winery of Mr. Manolis

Winemaking is an ancient Greek craft and the Kytherians, among the other Greeks, pursue it to this day. Down the road from my sister-in-law's village of Fatsadika is the winery of Mr. Manolis in the village of Tsikalaria.

Entrance to the Winery

 

 Over one hundred and fifty years old, the circa 1857 winery has been restored in recent years by the original owner's grandson, Yiannis Defterevos. The diminutive winery is now a museum that harks to the days when men worked all day and all night to stomp the grapes in a tub that was a built-in grape stomper. The juices ran through a drain into a cistern.

The stomping tub with an original wooden grape press

Barrels of old wine

The stomping tub

The vessels were small so the workers could only drink a little water

 

 Yiannis told us that the workers were allowed to drink only small amounts of fluids during that time because they could not step away from their work even for a few minutes.

Eating utensils from which the workers all ate.

The hearth and copper pot where the grape juice was boiled

Mr. Yiannis Defterevos in his gradfather's winery

 

Giant barrels still hold wine from grandfather Manolis' days. Yianni assures us that the wine is still excellent.

Mr. Manolis, the original founder of the winery

The cistern where the grape juice flowed

Grape Press

Three types of wine produced today

White, Red and Rose

Today, Yianni produces three types of wine using the old varieties. The Arikaras, a red  and Petroulianos. a white, as well as a rose. The red pairs well with light meat dishes and chicken and the white is a wonderful aperitif wine, good to drink alone or with fish dishes.

The varieties, which still flourish on the island today, were brought by the Greek refugees from Pontos after the Asia Minor catastrophe. The locals and the Pontians were impressed by how much more productive the grapes became when they were planted on Kythera. They attribute this to the long sun exposure, the ideal humidity and the salty breeze from the sea that they enjoy on the island. All these factors create a unique vintage that has been enjoyed for generations.

When you find yourself on Kythera one day, pass by the welcoming winery of Mr.Manolis and visit with his grandson Mr. Defterevos for a while. Try his wines and taste centuries of tradition.

Enjoy,

Maria