 | Fantaxometocho Estate vineyard |
In the countryside south of Heraklion, just outside of the village of Skalani, on the road towards Myrtia (birthplace of the famous Greek writer Kazantzakis), lies the southernmost of the Boutari estate vineyards.
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Fantaxometocho Estate cellar |
Planting began here in 1990 and was completed in 1994. Greek and foreign varieties flourish on 7 hectares of land rising from 170 to 215 metres above sea level. The soil is a mixture of clay and limestone, and the long Cretan summer makes the climate extremely dry. The site was very carefully selected and, as a result, the vineyard is sheltered from the Lybian Sea’s hot southerly winds and is cooled by the Cretan Sea’s refreshing northerly breezes.
The estate’s name, Fantaxometocho, is derived from an old local legend and means "The Haunted Cottage". A 300 - year- old cottage located on the estate has been preserved in excellent condition.
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Fantaxometocho Estate winery |
Today, the estate has a brand new state-of-the-art winery, completed in early 2004, which is one of the best equipped and most modern in Europe. It is open to the public and visitors may tour both the winery itself and the rest of the estate by appointment. The visit ends with a unique audiovisual presentation and the opportunity to sample some of Boutari’s classic and experimental local vintages, accompanied by selected specialties from Crete’s rich traditional cuisine.
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Fantaxometocho Estate winery |
It is from the heart of Crete - and exclusively from estate-grown grapes - that Boutari S.A. produce its white Fantaxometocho and red Skalani wines.
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