The Walking Society Magazine
Iliana Malihin
The winemaker and "daughter of Kríti" talks roots and rebirth.
The Walking Society
Vines and olive groves grow deep in the mountains around the village of Melambes in the central region of Réthymno. This is Iliana's home. Born and raised in Athens, she has always felt a magnetic pull to this area, starting with summer visits to her grandparents' house and vineyard. Her grandfather passed on his love for this land and as a tribute, her olive oil is named 'Emmanuel'.
After studying agriculture in Kríti and an oenology master's in Athens, Iliana started producing her own wines. Her debut blend combined the indigenous Vidiano grape from Kríti and the Acetic grape from Santorini, uniting two Greek islands for the first time wine-wise. And the rest is history.
Like her vineyards and olive trees, Iliana is a survivor. Resilience found fertile soil in her heart after a devastating fire in 2022, when she started a crowdfunding campaign to help regenerate the region. Discover her wild story in Issue #17 of The Walking Society Magazine.
Like her vineyards and olive trees, Iliana is a survivor. Resilience found fertile soil in her heart after a devastating fire in 2022, when she started a crowdfunding campaign to help regenerate the region. Discover her wild story in Issue #17 of The Walking Society Magazine.
Nikos Tsepetis
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