Iliana isn’t just making soulful, thoughtful (and thoroughly delightful) wines on Crete, she’s helping revitalize an entire region. Around the medieval town of Rethymno, Iliana farms some vineyards herself (planted to grape varieties Vidiano, Liatiko,... Read More

Iliana isn’t just making soulful, thoughtful (and thoroughly delightful) wines on Crete, she’s helping revitalize an entire region. Around the medieval town of Rethymno, Iliana farms some vineyards herself (planted to grape varieties Vidiano, Liatiko, and Thrapsithiri), and contracts more from her neighbors. She has convinced them to farm organically — not so difficult on the hot, dry, and windy island — and has made it possible for these locals to hold onto their land, instead of selling it off to avaricious real estate developers.