Author: M Mykonos Villas

Greek people have been practicing the art of winemaking for more than 6,000 years now. From the northern parts of Macedonia, birthplace of the tasty ruby reds that carry the scents of the forests to the sun & sea-washed dry varieties growing on the island of Crete, this traditional wine-growing country has around 300 autochthonous grape “families” that come to life in more than 1,200 wineries.

Wine also played a very important role in the Greek mythology and culture, where Dionysos was the famous –and somehow… naughty- god of the grape-harvest, winemaking and wine, of fertility, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, and theatre.

The islands of the Cyclades share a great part of this rich heritage as their microclimate allows the production of local wines with very special characteristics that are often awarded to international tasting competitions and exported all over the world. Either you travel to Mykonos, Paros and Santorini or to more remote islands, you should consider visiting local wineries, to see the vineyards and the stages of wine producing and also have the chance to walk around the cellars and listen to amazing wine stories.

The PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) Cyclades zone includes all the Cycladic islands in the southern Aegean Sea, provided that their vineyards are planted at altitudes exceeding 30m. It was established in 2008 with the purpose to reinforce the concepts of authenticity and typicality. Specific geographical boundaries and varietal compositions have been set and producers can now display vintage years of wines. The variety of the PGI Cyclades shows that all islands form a beautiful ark of Greek viticulture. You will recognize it under the names Athiri, Aidani White, Asprouda Santorinis, Assyrtiko, Gaidouria, Katsano, Kritiko, Maloukato, Mandilaria White, Muscat White, Savvatiano, Athiri Black, Aidani Black, Avgoustiatis, Vaftra, Voydomatis, Kotsifali, Mandilaria, Mavrotragano, Fokiano and more.

Although it might be a bit early to speak about wine tourism in the Cyclades –with the exception of Santorini – there is a definite rise in the production of top quality bottled wines, many of which are “born” in worth visiting boutique wineries. As for the vines they grow everywhere; on windy slopes where the dry soil is retained by low stone walls and on sandy shores where the fruits are scented by the sea breeze. Even today, throughout the Cycladic islands, vines are trained in aplotaries; the traditional way that makes them look like crawling on the ground to find protection from the strong northern winds!

So, are you looking for an unforgettable summer vacation experience that will combine relaxation, luxury and wine tasting? Book a villa with pool in Mykonos and start discovering the local wines!

Celebrating Christmas and the New Year in the Cyclades, Greece, is always a fascinating experience!

If, in early December, it happens that you catch a ferry to the Cyclades, at almost every port you will be met by the beautiful sight of shining, lit up fishing boats, decorated with small colorful lamps and all sorts of flags. For Greeks living by the sea, Christmas trees are a rather foreign custom so they choose to celebrate the birth of Christ and the New Year with a taste of sea salt!

Among the many festivities, with the children singing beautiful carols and the smell of the exquisite holiday dishes filling the air, the most special celebration of all is the Epiphany; a moment of devotement, when the local priest throws the holy cross in the waters in order to bless them and then a bunch of—usually young—men jump in the cold as ice sea to catch it and be themselves blessed. According to the tradition, he who keeps it in his hands will have great luck throughout the year.

There are many more sayings like this across the Aegean: if for example, on New Year’s Day, the wind comes from the North, it will bring good luck, while, on the same day, a pigeon landing in the house yard will be a good omen. On the contrary, if you see a raven flying over your roof, there are chances of bad things happening. In some of the islands, on the first morning of the New Year, people touch their faces with a piece of iron so that they will be healthy and strong—as if made of iron.

If, during Christmas holidays, you disembark in Mykonos, don’t even think of missing the chance to try the traditional around Greece, famous “kourabiedes” (butter biscuits with almonds, dusted with icing sugar), “melomakarona” or “finikia” (baked biscuits dipped in honey syrup) and “diples”(fried dough dipped in honey syrup). Not only their taste but also their smell as well is irresistible.

Sailing around the Aegean, in Amorgos you will eat “koftos”, a dish that includes wheat, onions, grated cheese and olive oil. In Anafi Christmas Day is celebrated with “koufeto”, a spoon sweet made of peeled almonds and pieces of pumpkin together slowly boiled in honey and New Year’s Day with the famous “zaforisto”, bread that has the taste of saffron and the color of the sun. In Naxos the Christmas bread is made of raisins and walnuts with a whole shelled walnut in the center of the loaf. In Sifnos the traditional Christmas meal consists of roasted pork and bread made with aniseed. In Syros, on Christmas Eve, the catholic residents eat fish and cauliflower while in Tripotamos, a small village of Tinos Island, people enjoy their “Brotherhood Meal”; an old Christmas custom according to which the (always male) head of the family is assigned to keep the candle that stands in front of the icon of Christ’s Birth, lit during the whole year. Lunch is also an only-men celebration, where guests bring their own cutlery, bread and wine and eat large portions of veal soup, meat cooked with onions in tomato sauce and boiled meat that the master of the house must serve abundantly.

Though Greece is not the only country in the world with a rich mythology, the lives of gods, semi-gods and heroes in its pre-historical times still have the power of a multicolor, vivid fairy tale that can keep our fantasy alive and thriving. Children learn about it at school and many are named after the fascinating personalities that influenced and inspired the ‘commoners’. The island of Mykonos was often mentioned in mythology, mostly in relation to the nearby sacred Delos Island which is a very important ancient site, visited by millions of people every year.

According to the myth, Delos emerged unexpectedly from the depths of the Aegean Sea, with the sole purpose to offer a safe place where beautiful Leto, granddaughter of Uranus (Skies) and Gaia (Earth), could give birth to her twins; Artemis, later goddess of hunt and Apollo, god of music. The reason why Leto was flying over the Cyclades was because Hera, wife of Zeus, who was the ‘illegal’ father of the children, was so furious that had ordered all land to disappear under Leto’s feet!

Legend also says that the Cyclades took their name from the Greek word ‘kyklos’, that means circle, exactly because they form an imaginary, protective circle around Delos.

As for Mykonos, it is believed that it was named after Mykons, its first ruler and highly esteemed hero, who was thought to be the grandson of god Apollo. It was the island where the great battle between Zeus and the fearful Titans took place; or where, according to another myth, Hercules managed to destroy the Giants, who were supposed to be invincible as long as they stayed under the protection of the holy Mount Olympus. Apparently Hercules lured them to this island and killed them. It is said that the large rocks scattered around the island are nothing but their petrified corpses.

Mykonos was firstly inhabited by Phoenicians, Minoans and Egyptians and later, around 1000BC, by the Ionians who took over the island. The islanders worshiped many gods but their favorites were Dionysus, god of wine, Demeter, goddess of farming, Poseidon, god of the seas and Apollo, the “local” god of music. Even in their deities’ choices it was more than obvious that Mykonians were destined for a life full of fun!

It wasn’t until the early ‘30s though that this alluring piece of heaven in the heart of the Aegean Sea started hosting the ‘rich and the famous’, including many artists, who were seduced by its unique beauties and kept coming back, building the island’s reputation as a top worldwide destination.

Today, the island that has a population of around 11,000 people welcomes more than 2 million visitors every year; so make sure you will not be the exception of the rule! Just make the decision and the best villas in Mykonos will be here to give you a warm welcome!