Vilana is one of the most important white wine varieties on the island of Crete. It may also come from the island, but it has a close genetic relationship to the Piperionos grape variety, which comes from Achaea on the mainland and no longer plays a role today. The vigorous grape variety tends to produce very high yields and has a large, compact cluster with small berries. It is very susceptible to all kinds of fungal diseases. The Vilana sprouts late and ripens quite late, which is why it clearly prefers a warm and dry climate. There are around 600 hectares of cultivated land spread across the island. In the Peza region it is produced as a pure variety; in the Sitia and Heraklion regions it is represented in a very high proportion in a cuvée. In the case of high yields, the wines are usually boring and somewhat dull, and in the cellar the Vilana also tends to oxidize quickly. On dry, sandy soils and when strict yield restrictions are observed, it brings fresh, fruity and piquant wines with delicate spice into the glass. Plantings outside the island of Crete are not known.
