Venetian Wine Presses in Kalo Chorio

The presence of Venetian wine presses in the traditional settlement of Kenourio Chorio, located in the Municipality of Hersonissos, adds a unique and historical charm to the area.

During the Venetian rule in Crete, the Venetian wine presses in Kenourio Chorio were owned by feudal lords. These lords prohibited the local inhabitants from constructing their own wine presses, thus ensuring their dependence on the existing ones. As part of this arrangement, the villagers were required to use these presses and give a portion of the grape juice as payment to the lords. The wine presses themselves consist of three large stone structures, each equipped with a vessel for collecting the grape juice. These three wine presses, along with the accompanying vessels, are integrated into a single building. The façade of each wine press features a spacious arched window, which served as an entrance and exit for the individuals who operated the presses.

In the vicinity, an intact stone foundation of a grape press was discovered and has been carefully preserved.

Information/ photo 1: www. landofexperiences. gr

Photo 2: “Handcrafted Crete”, Isabella Zambetaki, Region of Crete