Part of a series of videos to bring 100 different grape varieties from Greece to you.

Fact File Kotsifali

Area grown: Indigenous to Crete, where it is largely cultivated in the prefecture of Heraklion, only sporadically grown on Cyclades.

History: There is plenty of evidence that a wine culture has existed in Crete from 3000 BC. Between 1974 and the end of 1980 phylloxera destroyed many vines on the island and caused replanting on resistant rootstocks.

Grapes: Black colour. Vigorous, high yielding vines that have a medium burst period and a medium ripening time. The grapes usually ripen between the end of August and early September. The resulting wines are high in alcohol, have a low acidity and an unstable colour. The pips and skins have an unusually low percentage of the total berry weight. For this reason, it is widely blended with Mandilaria.

Nose/bouquet: Spices and herbs, plums, blackberry, boiled beetroot, Mediterranean. Medium bodied, juicy and smooth.