TRAVEL GUIDE TO RHODES, GREECE

The truth of the matter is that most of the local and traditional products that can be found in Rhodes are also widely available throughout Greece.  Several products, however, bear a special, exclusively Rhodian mark. Some of the top quality local products of the region include: 

Rhodes has an important winemaking tradition that dates back to the Neolithic age. The island traded its wines throughout the ancient world and is still renowned for the quality of its wine. The island, with the longest summer of any Greek island and the shortest period of rainfall, has an exceptionally good climate for the cultivation of grapes. Rocky, volcanic soil, high sun exposure, constant sea breezes provide excellent conditions for grape growing and ensure that the grapes are of the highest quality. The dominant grapes are the white Athiri and the red Mandelaria, (locally known as Amorgiano), which produce elegant white and red AOC Rhodos wines. A sweet AOC wine from Muscat grapes is also made in Rhodes.
Rhodian wine has a fine reputation so while on the island you should make it a point to visit some of the Rhodes’ vineyards and wineries. There are guided tours with wine-tasting organized to most of them. Some of the island’s best known wineries include:
Cair – located just outside of Rhodes town. The label of Cair has become the synonym of Greek Natural Sparkling Wine of Quality.
Anastasia Triantafillou winery – small traditional local winery close to Petaloudes ("The valley of Butterflies")
Emery – a modern winery in the village of Embonas
In the area you will also find some smaller traditional winemakers: Kounakis, Alexandris, Merkouris
Cair and Emery own over 90% of the local grape production.

Honey, in its rare form, is yet another distinctive product of the island. It is made by bees especially committed to thimati (like oregano) but also the many other wild herbs, flowers as well as pine forests that grow on the island add to its aromatic richness. To be sure that you get the genuine locally produced honey,  however, you might have to head for the villages of Siana or Vati and ask if anyone offers to sell it.

Olive oil is another art of the island, and again as in the case of the locally produced honey, the best olive oil is sold out of private homes which goes to say that you have to make discreet inquiries to find the sources.

Rhodes is also famed for its hand-woven carpets and kilims, a legacy of the centuries-long Ottoman occupation, which are made in the villages of Archangelos, Afandou and Lindos. In the Old Town, these and other Rhodian handmade carpets and kilims are sold and u can also watch them being made.

Finally, the island of Rhodes is also famous for its fine ceramic plates made in the village of Lindos, excellent pottery made in Archangelos, its lace and beautiful multicoloured embroideries made in the villages of Embonas and Lindos. Alas, nowadays lots of those products come from Asian countries so you might be better off asking for help to learn the difference between what’s local and what’s imported.