In the Wine Dark Sea

A film about the wines of Crete, the people behind them and the challenges they are facing with the eminent climate change.

Runtime: 97 mins
Released: 2021

Film Synopsis:
Through a colorful mosaic of stories, this documentary film aims to demystify Crete as a winemaking region and offers a rare insider glimpse into the indigenous grape varieties, the people behind them and the challenges they are facing with the eminent climate change. Filmed, edited and directed entirely by Chrisa Giorgi, the project reveals the ancient grape varieties and the unique terroir of Crete.

Wine-growers, Oenologists, Wine-makers, Sommeliers, University Professors, Chefs, wine critics and Masters of Wine, guide us in a journey through time, following the paths of Homer to discover “the island called Crete, in the midst of the wine dark sea”

The viewer travels through the vineyards found in the valleys and the mountains of Crete and discovers the secrets of eleven indigenous grape varieties and tastes the life and winemaking philosophy of eleven passionate producers. Then the viewer travels to the USA to discover how to pair the wines with international cuisine and hear how wine experts perceive the wines of Crete as they taste them for the first time.

Professor Emeritus Manolis Stavrakakis and Master of Wine-Konstantinos Lazarakis, give their honest, authentic and critical opinions about each region, grape variety, terroir, and wine. They will also explain what makes the terroirs so unique and how the interested wine drinker can make the best choice wine-wise.

The featured grape varieties are:
Vidiano
Liatiko
Romeiko
Mandilari
Muscat of Spina
Thrapsathiri
Malvasia di Candia
Kotsifali
Vilana
Dafni
Plyto

Watch the Trailer: 

The Filmmaker: Chrisa Giorgi

Starring:
Apostolos Alexakis
Zacharias Diamantakis
Lefteris Digenakis
Emmanouela & Niki Paterianaki
Andreas & Antonis Dourakis
Stelios Klados
George Lyrarakis
Maria Titaki
Abbot Filotheos Spanoudakis
Abbot Amvrosios Skarvelis
Nikos Gavalas
Alexandra Manousakis & Afshin Molavi