Liatiko

The red variety Liatiko ( Greek spelling: Λιάτικο ) is native mainly on the island of Crete. The cultivation of the plant is recommended in the regional districts of Heraklion and Lasithi. But admitted she is also in the two other regional districts of Chania and Rethymno and in the mainland regions of Macedonia region. After the grape variety Mavrud Liatiko was in the early 1990s as the most popular red grape of Greece. Unmixed she is in OPAP ( Onomasia proelefseos anoteras piotitos Ονομασία προελευσέως ανωτέρας ποιότητος ) - Daphne processed wine. With the varieties Mandilaria and Kotsifali the wine of Liatico vine goes into blends.

The Ampelograph Krimbas suspected that the variety korinthiaki is a mutation of the variety Liatiko. In Crete there is a rare variety with the name Lianorrogo Liatico that carries 3 different kinds of berries. One type is like the berries of the Liatiko, other berries with a diameter of 9 mm and only one core already an intermediate form of Liatiko and korinthiaki. The third form of the berries have a diameter of only 4 mm and are seedless.

Much clearer is the descent from the historical Malvasia grape, vinified in Crete before 2000 BC. The island is one of the oldest wine-growing cultures worldwide. Near the village of Archanes was discovered during excavations in Vathipetro the oldest wine press in the world and in Rome and Pompeii containers were labeled " Vinum creticum Excellens " found, proving that the Cretan wines were famous all over the world at that time. From Crete is also the historical Malvasia wine. His successor is a mostly dry -developed red wine and a golden, sweet wine, which is also made of this grape.

Ampelographic varietal characteristics

In the ampelography the habit is described as follows:

• The shoot tip is open. It is slightly hairy white wool and slightly pink at their peak. The mottled green young leaves ( Anthocyanflecken ) are hairy only spinnwebig.
• The leaves are indented five lobes and deep. The petiole is lyraförmig open ( but sometimes closed). The blade is serrated blunt. The teeth have a medium wide spacing in the comparison of varieties.
• The drum-shaped bunch is medium and dichtbeerig. The roundish berries are also medium in size and of blue-black color. The berries have a thin grape skin and are very juicy ..

The grape ripens a few days after Chasselas and thus applies within the red grape varieties as very early ripening. In Crete, they can usually be harvested in early July.

Synonyms

The grape Liatico is also known by the name Liatiko, Liatis, Mavroliatis, Mayrodiates and Mavrodiates.