Monika’s Garden Wine Bar is located inside the Polydoros Hotel Apartments in the heart of Paleochora. It is an Exclusive Wine Bar offering a variety of over 40 different wines by the glass. All the wines on offer are sourced from local producers of the island. The Wine bar has a magnificent courtyard where you can relax and enjoy the numerous varieties on offer. There is a selection of light snacks that you can order to accompany your wine making it a perfect setting for a summer night or you could even pop in for a glass before you make your way to taste the Cretan cuisine on offer in one of the beautiful restaurant in Paleochora.
Did you know that Wine making in Crete can be traced back thousands of years to the Minoan Civilization? Minoans were very proactive in cultivating their land and tasted everything that the island and its land had to offer. There is overwhelming proof that show a flourishing economy as evidenced by hundred of tablets discovered by archaeologists. Olive oil, cereals and wine were the three main products that were cultivated and traded in those times.
There has been a systematic cultivation of wine in Crete for over 4000 years. In the region of Vathipetro the oldest wine-press which is estimated to be 3500 years old was found. During Homers time there are mentions of the quality of Cretan wines around the world of that time. There is further evidence that can be found in all Minoan Palaces with vast underground wine storage facilities , impressive amphorae and relevant drawings that prove the central role that wine had in the life of the island. Minoas filled their boats with wine and travelled all over the Mediterranean even reaching the shores of Egypt and the Egyptian Pharaoh. Wall murals have been found to show Cretan ships arriving at Egyptian ports. Off the coast of Turkey a ship wreckage was discovered by archaeologists with a sealed amphora that was filled with wine. It was estimated that this wine was over 3000 years old. Talk about a vintage wine….
Given the history of wine making in the island of Crete there are still so many people that do not know that the island produces a variety of delicious wines. SO make sure to pop into Monika’s Garden Wine bar and try to taste all of Crete in glass!
