Lyrarakis

Lyrarakis is a winery on the island of Crete, Greece, established in 1966 by brothers Manolis and Sotiris Lyrarakis. It is run by winemakers supported by an extended family of skilled professionals.

Its portfolio features more than 11 indigenous grape varieties, including three saved from extinction. Dafni and Plyto were first planted in the Psarades family vineyard in 1992, while Melissaki found its home in the Gero Deti vineyard in 2010. The winery transitioned to organic viticulture in 2020. As part of its regenerative approach, it has stopped ploughing and uses only its own fertilizer made from organic waste from its kitchen, winemaking and nearby oil mills. To adapt to climate change, it has also been moving to higher altitudes and replacing its trellising with the lyre system.