LINOS

"Linos", the age-old winery that was mainly intended for the making of Commandaria, is the only one still extant in the community of Lania out of a total of 17 similar ones that existed in past times.

The spreading of the dark grapes was done over the flat rooftop -upon some vine leafs -so that the evaporation of a large quantity of water would be achieved to the benefit of increased sweetness.

At the right moment, the dried up grapes were thrown through the east hole of the roof and into the "Tziathin" (or "Kyathos", elevated floor where the wine-tub is placed and the grapes were spread), being accumulated after they were bundled under the double lever and covered by heavy, oak planks.

In about the middle of the "Linos" there is a rock of a round shape, at the centre of which a spiral bolt ("adrachti", spindle) was fastened, rotating within the suspending end of the lever. Through the rotation of the handle at the base of the bolt, the levered weight is elevated. The lever is brought down very carefully upon the planks, pressing the grapes and thus the must flows through the wine-spout and into the "podoshin" (receptor, an earthenware jar placed on the ground).

From there it is transferred into the empty jars so that the fermentation is completed.

Afterwards comes the "transfusion", which will conduce to the purification of the "Commandaria".

The Linos of Lania as constructed by Christofis Meramou in 1822 and it was owned by George Papageorgiou.

"Linos" was expropriated in the beginning of the 1980's and today it belongs to the community.