Liatiko

The red grape variety originates from Greece. Synonyms are Aleatiko, Liatico, Liatis, Mavroliatis and Stafili Tu Louliou. It is believed that the variety (among many others) was used to produce the famous Malvasia wines, which were shipped or exported from the historic Greek port of Monemvasia as early as the 13th century. It should not be confused with the Italian variety Aleatico, as well as the no longer cultivated Mavrodiates, Mavroliatis and Mayrodiates, despite seemingly suggestive synonyms or morphological or name similarities. According to DNA analyses conducted in 2011, there is a parent-offspring relationship with the Korinthiaki variety. The long-held assumption that this is a seedless mutation of Liatiko has thus been disproved.

The early-maturing (from which the name is derived after the Greek "Iouliatiko" for July), high-yielding vine is susceptible to downy mildew, grape rot and viruses, as well as being sensitive to drought. It produces light-coloured, delicately spicy red wines with moderate acidity and soft tannins, often blended with the more colourful Mandilaria and Kotsifali varieties. It is grown on some islands in the Aegean, in Macedonia, but mainly in Crete, where it is permitted for the POP red wines Dafnes and Sitia. In 2016, 2,633 hectares of vines were declared in Greece (Kym Anderson).

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Liatiko

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