2023 Lefkos, Iliana Malihin, Crete, Réthymnon IGP

Founded in 2019 by young winemaker Iliana Malihin, the estate is located in the village of Melambes, in the prefecture of Rethymno, Crete. Her mission is to revive old vineyards, including pre-phylloxera vines often over a century old, as well as high-altitude plots between ~560 and 900 meters. The winery follows organic, sometimes biodynamic practices: manual pruning, natural fertilizers (compost, seaweed), minimal intervention, indigenous yeasts, no fining or filtration, and very low sulphur use. The wines strongly reflect the Cretan terroir: schist and clay soils, varied exposure, mountain climate, cool nights, and maritime winds. Vidiano is the flagship grape, alongside Thrapsathiri, Liatiko, and other indigenous varieties. Despite major challenges — such as wildfires that destroyed part of the old vineyards in 2022 — Iliana continues her project with conviction, combining tradition with a unique and natural expression of her land.