The vine is one of the most ancient plants cultivated by man. Much has been written and said about the beneficial properties and value that grapes, wine and raisins have for humans as food, as a means of healing, as a body energizer.
The entire history of Crete, the Peloponnese and the wider Mediterranean area is influenced by the cultivation of the vine.
It is recorded that among all the peoples of the world, first the Greeks and then the Romans are considered the most skilled vine growers and wine producers. Mythology, painting, sculpture, poetry, manners and customs, eating habits, trade, medicine and even our religion bear the stamp of the vine. Ancient Greek writers such as Herodotus, Plato, Aristotle often refer to raisins, which were produced since ancient times and were known as “astafides” or “rasfylides” or “raisins”.
